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# NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
## 200+ ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES, FIRST TIME PASS ATTEMPT
LATEST 2026
# PART I: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & INJURY
**Q1. A decrease in cell size and function is termed:**
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Atrophy is the decrease in cell size and function. It can occur from
disuse, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging. This is a reversible cellular adaptation .
---
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**Q2. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell
number?**
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It is an adaptive
response that can be physiologic (e.g., breast enlargement during pregnancy) or
pathologic (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia) .
---
**Q3. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another is called:**
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
**Correct Answer: B**
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**Rationale:** Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another, usually in response to chronic irritation. An example is the
replacement of columnar epithelium with squamous epithelium in the respiratory
tract of smokers .
---
**Q4. Which of the following cellular changes is considered reversible?**
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Atrophy
D) Gangrene
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Atrophy is a reversible adaptive change. Necrosis, apoptosis, and
gangrene represent cell death and are irreversible .
---
**Q5. Apoptosis is best described as:**
A) Unregulated cell death with inflammation
B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
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C) Cell death due to trauma
D) Cell death due to hypoxia
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is regulated, energy-
dependent, and does not trigger an inflammatory response. It is essential for
normal development and tissue homeostasis .
---
**Q6. Necrosis is characterized by:**
A) Programmed cell death
B) Cellular swelling and rupture with inflammation
C) No inflammatory response
D) Shrinkage of cells
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Necrosis is unregulated cell death due to injury, characterized by
cellular swelling, rupture of cell membranes, and an inflammatory response .
---
# NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
## 200+ ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES, FIRST TIME PASS ATTEMPT
LATEST 2026
# PART I: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & INJURY
**Q1. A decrease in cell size and function is termed:**
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Atrophy is the decrease in cell size and function. It can occur from
disuse, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging. This is a reversible cellular adaptation .
---
,2|Page
**Q2. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell
number?**
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It is an adaptive
response that can be physiologic (e.g., breast enlargement during pregnancy) or
pathologic (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia) .
---
**Q3. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another is called:**
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
**Correct Answer: B**
,3|Page
**Rationale:** Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another, usually in response to chronic irritation. An example is the
replacement of columnar epithelium with squamous epithelium in the respiratory
tract of smokers .
---
**Q4. Which of the following cellular changes is considered reversible?**
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Atrophy
D) Gangrene
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Atrophy is a reversible adaptive change. Necrosis, apoptosis, and
gangrene represent cell death and are irreversible .
---
**Q5. Apoptosis is best described as:**
A) Unregulated cell death with inflammation
B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
, 4|Page
C) Cell death due to trauma
D) Cell death due to hypoxia
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is regulated, energy-
dependent, and does not trigger an inflammatory response. It is essential for
normal development and tissue homeostasis .
---
**Q6. Necrosis is characterized by:**
A) Programmed cell death
B) Cellular swelling and rupture with inflammation
C) No inflammatory response
D) Shrinkage of cells
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Necrosis is unregulated cell death due to injury, characterized by
cellular swelling, rupture of cell membranes, and an inflammatory response .
---
