NURS 5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Ovarian cancer site of metastasis? - ANS Peritoneal surfaces, omentum (fold of peritoneum
connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs), *liver*
The increased NADH/NAD+ ratio in the liver from ethanol causes: - ANS 1. Pyruvate --> lactic
acid, causing lactic acidosis
2. Oxaloacetate --> malate. This prevents gluconeogenesis and leads to hypoglycemia
3. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate --> glycerol 3- phosphate and combines with fatty acids to form
triglycerides in the liver, known as hepatosteatosis
4. Decreases citric acid cycle production of NADH and leads to using Acetyl-CoA for ketogenesis
and lipogenesis
What can Reactive Oxygen Species cause? - ANS Heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM, ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA.
Lipid perioxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA, less *protein synthesis*, chromatin
destruction, damage mitochondria
What is the body's defense against ROS? - ANS Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine,
glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How are free radicals produced? - ANS 1. Normal cellular respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
action potential - ANS Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the neuron --> the neuron
depolarizes --> then repolarizes
Threshold potential - ANS Point at which depolarization must reach in order to initiate an
action potential
Hypokalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPERpolarized (more negative, ex. -100). Less
excitable. Decreased neuromuscular excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia,
cardiac dysrhythmias
Hyperkalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPOpolarized (more positive, ex: closer to 0).
More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD = cardiac standstill,
paresthesia, paralysis
Hypocalcemia and action potentials - ANS Increased permeability to Na+. More excitable.
Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia and action potentials - ANS Decreased permeability to Na+. Less excitable.
Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Atrophy - ANS Occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it
has now compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient supply, hormonal
supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and
may lead to cellular death.
Atrophy examples - ANS Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
Hypertrophy - ANS Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase in size of organ.
Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
Hypertrophy examples - ANS physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal hypertrophy when a person
does heavy work or weight lifting / when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney
increases in size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased workload in hypertensive
patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
Hyperplasia - ANS Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from increased rate of mitosis. Can
ONLY happen in cells that are capable of mitosis (cell division).
Hyperplasia examples - ANS 1. Thickening of skin because of hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and the endometrial lining
undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for endometrial cancer
Dysplasia - ANS abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to
persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Ovarian cancer site of metastasis? - ANS Peritoneal surfaces, omentum (fold of peritoneum
connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs), *liver*
The increased NADH/NAD+ ratio in the liver from ethanol causes: - ANS 1. Pyruvate --> lactic
acid, causing lactic acidosis
2. Oxaloacetate --> malate. This prevents gluconeogenesis and leads to hypoglycemia
3. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate --> glycerol 3- phosphate and combines with fatty acids to form
triglycerides in the liver, known as hepatosteatosis
4. Decreases citric acid cycle production of NADH and leads to using Acetyl-CoA for ketogenesis
and lipogenesis
What can Reactive Oxygen Species cause? - ANS Heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM, ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA.
Lipid perioxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA, less *protein synthesis*, chromatin
destruction, damage mitochondria
What is the body's defense against ROS? - ANS Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine,
glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How are free radicals produced? - ANS 1. Normal cellular respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
action potential - ANS Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the neuron --> the neuron
depolarizes --> then repolarizes
Threshold potential - ANS Point at which depolarization must reach in order to initiate an
action potential
Hypokalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPERpolarized (more negative, ex. -100). Less
excitable. Decreased neuromuscular excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia,
cardiac dysrhythmias
Hyperkalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPOpolarized (more positive, ex: closer to 0).
More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD = cardiac standstill,
paresthesia, paralysis
Hypocalcemia and action potentials - ANS Increased permeability to Na+. More excitable.
Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia and action potentials - ANS Decreased permeability to Na+. Less excitable.
Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Atrophy - ANS Occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it
has now compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient supply, hormonal
supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and
may lead to cellular death.
Atrophy examples - ANS Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
Hypertrophy - ANS Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase in size of organ.
Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
Hypertrophy examples - ANS physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal hypertrophy when a person
does heavy work or weight lifting / when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney
increases in size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased workload in hypertensive
patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
Hyperplasia - ANS Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from increased rate of mitosis. Can
ONLY happen in cells that are capable of mitosis (cell division).
Hyperplasia examples - ANS 1. Thickening of skin because of hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and the endometrial lining
undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for endometrial cancer
Dysplasia - ANS abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to
persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
