1
NURS PATHO EXAM TEST BANK 9/E QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 2025 A+
Chapter 1. Cellular Biology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA
with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by the student?
a. A single circular chromosome
b. A nucleus
c. Free-floating nuclear material
d. No organelles
ANS: B
The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA within its
nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.
A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not have histones.
Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a distinct
nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No organelles
describes a prokaryotic cell.
2. A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is the nurse
describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform nutrients to energy?
a. Metabolic absorption
b. Communication
c. Secretion
d. Respiration
, 2
ANS: D
The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cells function of respiration.
The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function of
communication.
The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cells function of metabolic absorption.
The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers to the cells
function of secretion.
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of
the genetic information be contained?
a. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic
acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus.
The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.
The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.
The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic material.
4. The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior. According to
this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the fluid lipid bilayer?
a. Peripheral membrane proteins
b. Integral membrane proteins
, 3
c. Glycoproteins
d. Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.
Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.
Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.
Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook together.
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
a. Oxygen
b. Ribosomes
c. Amphipathic lipids
d. Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.
Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.
Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.
Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding would
support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix that include:
a. Decreased fibronectin
b. Increased collagen
c. Decreased elastin
, 4
d. Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing cancer
cells to travel, or metastasize.
Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not cancer.
Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated with cancerous
cells.
Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact?
a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosomes
d. Tight junctions
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the inside of another.
Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.
Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages of others.
8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring
alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
NURS PATHO EXAM TEST BANK 9/E QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 2025 A+
Chapter 1. Cellular Biology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA
with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by the student?
a. A single circular chromosome
b. A nucleus
c. Free-floating nuclear material
d. No organelles
ANS: B
The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA within its
nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.
A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not have histones.
Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a distinct
nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No organelles
describes a prokaryotic cell.
2. A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is the nurse
describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform nutrients to energy?
a. Metabolic absorption
b. Communication
c. Secretion
d. Respiration
, 2
ANS: D
The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cells function of respiration.
The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function of
communication.
The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cells function of metabolic absorption.
The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers to the cells
function of secretion.
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of
the genetic information be contained?
a. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic
acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus.
The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.
The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.
The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic material.
4. The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior. According to
this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the fluid lipid bilayer?
a. Peripheral membrane proteins
b. Integral membrane proteins
, 3
c. Glycoproteins
d. Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.
Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.
Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.
Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook together.
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
a. Oxygen
b. Ribosomes
c. Amphipathic lipids
d. Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.
Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.
Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.
Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding would
support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix that include:
a. Decreased fibronectin
b. Increased collagen
c. Decreased elastin
, 4
d. Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing cancer
cells to travel, or metastasize.
Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not cancer.
Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated with cancerous
cells.
Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact?
a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosomes
d. Tight junctions
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the inside of another.
Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.
Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages of others.
8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring
alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
