1
NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 150 Real Exam Questions &
Correct Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Rasmussen | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
Q1: Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or disuse. Option A is
hypertrophy. Option C is hyperplasia. Option D is hypertrophy.
Q2: A patient has a cast on their leg for 6 weeks. After the cast is removed, the leg appears
smaller and weaker. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Disuse atrophy [CORRECT]
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size due to lack of stimulation or use,
such as immobilization in a cast.
,2
Q3: An increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an increase in the overall size of an
organ or tissue, is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia refers to an increase in cell
number.
Q4: A patient with a long history of smoking has a bronchial biopsy showing that the normal
columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This
adaptive change is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, usually
less differentiated, cell type. In smokers, the airway lining changes to better handle the irritation,
but loses its protective ciliary function.
Q5: Which cellular adaptation is considered a pre-cancerous change?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
,3
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to disorganized, abnormal cell growth that is not reversible and is
considered a precursor to cancer.
Q6: Which type of necrosis is characteristic of brain tissue ischemia?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are rich in hydrolytic
enzymes that digest the tissue into a liquid mass. Coagulative necrosis is typical of other organs
like the heart or kidney.
Q7: During which phase of cellular injury does the cell become dehydrated, and the nucleus
shrinks and becomes darkly stained?
A. Swelling phase
B. Accumulation phase
C. Pyknosis phase [CORRECT]
D. Recovery phase
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pyknosis is a nuclear change in injured cells where the nucleus shrinks and becomes
dense/basophilic. This is a sign of irreversible injury.
Q8: What is the primary cause of cellular swelling (hydropic degeneration) during hypoxia?
A. Increased protein synthesis
, 4
B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump [CORRECT]
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased intracellular calcium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a lack of ATP. Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails,
sodium accumulates inside the cell, water follows by osmosis, leading to swelling.
Q9: A pathologist examines tissue and sees "cheesy" appearing lesions. This is indicative of:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Fat necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis, appearing
like clumped cheese, and is characteristic of tuberculosis infections.
Q10: Apoptosis is defined as:
A. Uncontrolled cell death due to injury
B. Programmed cell death [CORRECT]
C. Reversible cell injury
D. Cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a normal, controlled, programmed cell death that occurs in development
and aging, distinct from necrosis.
NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 150 Real Exam Questions &
Correct Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Rasmussen | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
Q1: Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or disuse. Option A is
hypertrophy. Option C is hyperplasia. Option D is hypertrophy.
Q2: A patient has a cast on their leg for 6 weeks. After the cast is removed, the leg appears
smaller and weaker. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Disuse atrophy [CORRECT]
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size due to lack of stimulation or use,
such as immobilization in a cast.
,2
Q3: An increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an increase in the overall size of an
organ or tissue, is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia refers to an increase in cell
number.
Q4: A patient with a long history of smoking has a bronchial biopsy showing that the normal
columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This
adaptive change is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, usually
less differentiated, cell type. In smokers, the airway lining changes to better handle the irritation,
but loses its protective ciliary function.
Q5: Which cellular adaptation is considered a pre-cancerous change?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
,3
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to disorganized, abnormal cell growth that is not reversible and is
considered a precursor to cancer.
Q6: Which type of necrosis is characteristic of brain tissue ischemia?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are rich in hydrolytic
enzymes that digest the tissue into a liquid mass. Coagulative necrosis is typical of other organs
like the heart or kidney.
Q7: During which phase of cellular injury does the cell become dehydrated, and the nucleus
shrinks and becomes darkly stained?
A. Swelling phase
B. Accumulation phase
C. Pyknosis phase [CORRECT]
D. Recovery phase
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pyknosis is a nuclear change in injured cells where the nucleus shrinks and becomes
dense/basophilic. This is a sign of irreversible injury.
Q8: What is the primary cause of cellular swelling (hydropic degeneration) during hypoxia?
A. Increased protein synthesis
, 4
B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump [CORRECT]
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased intracellular calcium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a lack of ATP. Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails,
sodium accumulates inside the cell, water follows by osmosis, leading to swelling.
Q9: A pathologist examines tissue and sees "cheesy" appearing lesions. This is indicative of:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Fat necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis, appearing
like clumped cheese, and is characteristic of tuberculosis infections.
Q10: Apoptosis is defined as:
A. Uncontrolled cell death due to injury
B. Programmed cell death [CORRECT]
C. Reversible cell injury
D. Cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a normal, controlled, programmed cell death that occurs in development
and aging, distinct from necrosis.
