NURS 302 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 QUESTIONS COMPLETE
WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
1. Cellular atrophy involves which of the following?
A) An increase in cell size
B) An increase in the number of cells
C) A decrease in the number of cells
D) A decrease in cell size
Correct Answer: D – Atrophy is defined as a decrease in cell size, not cell number.
This reduction in size helps the cell conserve energy and resources in response to
decreased workload or adverse conditions.
2. The process of cellular atrophy is accomplished through which mechanism?
A) Loss of fluid
B) Decreased cell division
C) Inhibition of enzyme formation
D) Formation of autophagic vacuoles
Correct Answer: D – Autophagic vacuoles form during atrophy to digest cellular
components, allowing the cell to shrink in size while recycling intracellular
materials.
3. In compensatory hyperplasia, growth factors stimulate cell division in
response to what?
A) Decreased hormonal stimulation
B) Ischemia
C) Tissue loss
D) Puberty
Correct Answer: C – Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when tissue loss (e.g.,
,partial hepatectomy or kidney donation) triggers growth factors to stimulate
mitosis and restore tissue mass.
4. Pathologic hyperplasia can lead to which of the following?
A) Neoplasia (cancer)
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D – Pathologic hyperplasia increases the risk of neoplasia,
dysplasia, and metaplasia due to excessive cell division, which can predispose to
genetic mutations and abnormal differentiation.
5. In response to increased workload, such as high blood pressure, myocardial
cells in the left ventricle will adapt through which process?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D – Cardiac muscle cells respond to increased hemodynamic load
by hypertrophy (enlargement) since they have limited mitotic capacity and cannot
undergo hyperplasia.
6. The process of muscle hypertrophy involves an increase in what?
A) Cell division
B) Water accumulation
C) Plasma membrane thickness
D) Protein synthesis
Correct Answer: D – Hypertrophy results from increased synthesis of structural
proteins (e.g., actin and myosin), leading to enlargement of individual muscle
fibers.
,7. Chronic infection of the cervix by human papillomavirus results in cervical
what?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Hormonal hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: D – HPV infection causes disordered cellular growth and
maturation (dysplasia), which is a precancerous change in cervical epithelial cells.
8. Metaplasia involves the replacement of normal cells by which of the
following?
A) Abnormal cells of the same tissue type
B) Scar tissue
C) Cancer cells
D) Another type of cell
Correct Answer: D – Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another, often as an adaptive response to chronic
irritation.
9. The most common cause of hypoxic injury is what?
A) Free radicals
B) Malnutrition
C) Chemical toxicity
D) Ischemia
Correct Answer: D – Ischemia, or reduced blood flow, is the most frequent cause
of hypoxia, depriving tissues of oxygen and nutrients.
10. Tissue ischemia and decreased mitochondrial oxygenation result in which of
the following?
, A) Cellular dehydration
B) Calcium accumulation outside the cell
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Decreased ATP production
Correct Answer: D – Without oxygen, mitochondria cannot perform oxidative
phosphorylation, leading to a sharp decline in ATP production.
11. Lysosomal rupture during hypoxic injury leads to what?
A) Cellular acidosis
B) Sodium influx
C) Cellular adaptation
D) Autodigestion of cells
Correct Answer: D – Ruptured lysosomes release hydrolytic enzymes that digest
cellular components, causing autodigestion and cell death (necrosis).
12. Free radical injury can be caused by all of the following factors except:
A) Radiation injury
B) Tissue reperfusion following ischemia
C) Enzymatic metabolism of chemicals
D) Tissue damage by antioxidants
Correct Answer: D – Antioxidants protect against free radicals; they do not cause
injury. Radiation, reperfusion, and chemical metabolism all generate free radicals.
13. Vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene act as what in the body?
A) Poisons
B) Free radicals
C) Receptor blockers
D) Antioxidants
Correct Answer: D – These nutrients are antioxidants that neutralize free radicals
by donating electrons, thereby preventing oxidative damage to cells.
WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
1. Cellular atrophy involves which of the following?
A) An increase in cell size
B) An increase in the number of cells
C) A decrease in the number of cells
D) A decrease in cell size
Correct Answer: D – Atrophy is defined as a decrease in cell size, not cell number.
This reduction in size helps the cell conserve energy and resources in response to
decreased workload or adverse conditions.
2. The process of cellular atrophy is accomplished through which mechanism?
A) Loss of fluid
B) Decreased cell division
C) Inhibition of enzyme formation
D) Formation of autophagic vacuoles
Correct Answer: D – Autophagic vacuoles form during atrophy to digest cellular
components, allowing the cell to shrink in size while recycling intracellular
materials.
3. In compensatory hyperplasia, growth factors stimulate cell division in
response to what?
A) Decreased hormonal stimulation
B) Ischemia
C) Tissue loss
D) Puberty
Correct Answer: C – Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when tissue loss (e.g.,
,partial hepatectomy or kidney donation) triggers growth factors to stimulate
mitosis and restore tissue mass.
4. Pathologic hyperplasia can lead to which of the following?
A) Neoplasia (cancer)
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D – Pathologic hyperplasia increases the risk of neoplasia,
dysplasia, and metaplasia due to excessive cell division, which can predispose to
genetic mutations and abnormal differentiation.
5. In response to increased workload, such as high blood pressure, myocardial
cells in the left ventricle will adapt through which process?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D – Cardiac muscle cells respond to increased hemodynamic load
by hypertrophy (enlargement) since they have limited mitotic capacity and cannot
undergo hyperplasia.
6. The process of muscle hypertrophy involves an increase in what?
A) Cell division
B) Water accumulation
C) Plasma membrane thickness
D) Protein synthesis
Correct Answer: D – Hypertrophy results from increased synthesis of structural
proteins (e.g., actin and myosin), leading to enlargement of individual muscle
fibers.
,7. Chronic infection of the cervix by human papillomavirus results in cervical
what?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Hormonal hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: D – HPV infection causes disordered cellular growth and
maturation (dysplasia), which is a precancerous change in cervical epithelial cells.
8. Metaplasia involves the replacement of normal cells by which of the
following?
A) Abnormal cells of the same tissue type
B) Scar tissue
C) Cancer cells
D) Another type of cell
Correct Answer: D – Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another, often as an adaptive response to chronic
irritation.
9. The most common cause of hypoxic injury is what?
A) Free radicals
B) Malnutrition
C) Chemical toxicity
D) Ischemia
Correct Answer: D – Ischemia, or reduced blood flow, is the most frequent cause
of hypoxia, depriving tissues of oxygen and nutrients.
10. Tissue ischemia and decreased mitochondrial oxygenation result in which of
the following?
, A) Cellular dehydration
B) Calcium accumulation outside the cell
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Decreased ATP production
Correct Answer: D – Without oxygen, mitochondria cannot perform oxidative
phosphorylation, leading to a sharp decline in ATP production.
11. Lysosomal rupture during hypoxic injury leads to what?
A) Cellular acidosis
B) Sodium influx
C) Cellular adaptation
D) Autodigestion of cells
Correct Answer: D – Ruptured lysosomes release hydrolytic enzymes that digest
cellular components, causing autodigestion and cell death (necrosis).
12. Free radical injury can be caused by all of the following factors except:
A) Radiation injury
B) Tissue reperfusion following ischemia
C) Enzymatic metabolism of chemicals
D) Tissue damage by antioxidants
Correct Answer: D – Antioxidants protect against free radicals; they do not cause
injury. Radiation, reperfusion, and chemical metabolism all generate free radicals.
13. Vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene act as what in the body?
A) Poisons
B) Free radicals
C) Receptor blockers
D) Antioxidants
Correct Answer: D – These nutrients are antioxidants that neutralize free radicals
by donating electrons, thereby preventing oxidative damage to cells.
