NUR 631/NUR631 Exam 1 V1 | Advanced
Physiology and Pathophysiology Q&A with
Rationale | Grand Canyon University
1. A patient has a heart attack that leads to progressive cell death in the myocardium. Which
process describes the organized, programmed cell death that may occur in adjacent cells?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that is distinct from the messy
process of necrosis. It involves a cascade of cellular events that lead to the elimination of
cells without releasing harmful digestive enzymes into the surrounding tissue. In the
context of a myocardial infarction, while many cells die via necrosis, others undergo
apoptosis as a regulated response to stress.
2. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of cells
resulting from an increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
,C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia refers specifically to the increase in the number of cells within an
organ or tissue. This is different from hypertrophy, which is an increase in the size of
individual cells. Hyperplasia occurs in response to physiological or pathological stimuli,
such as hormonal changes or compensatory needs after injury.
3. A 50-year-old male with chronic smoking history has a biopsy of his bronchial lining
showing that normal columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified
squamous epithelial cells. This is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, less
differentiated cell type. In smokers, the delicate ciliated columnar cells of the airways are
often replaced by tougher squamous cells to withstand irritation. This adaptation provides
protection but results in the loss of critical functions like mucus clearance.
, 4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Free radicals
C. Chemical agents
D. Infectious agents
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the leading cause of cellular injury. It
typically results from ischemia, which is a reduced blood supply to tissues. Without oxygen,
cells cannot produce ATP through aerobic metabolism, leading to failure of the sodium-
potassium pump and cellular swelling.
5. In response to an increased workload, such as weightlifting, skeletal muscle cells will
experience which of the following?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical
stimuli or increased workload. Because skeletal and cardiac muscle cells cannot divide
Physiology and Pathophysiology Q&A with
Rationale | Grand Canyon University
1. A patient has a heart attack that leads to progressive cell death in the myocardium. Which
process describes the organized, programmed cell death that may occur in adjacent cells?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that is distinct from the messy
process of necrosis. It involves a cascade of cellular events that lead to the elimination of
cells without releasing harmful digestive enzymes into the surrounding tissue. In the
context of a myocardial infarction, while many cells die via necrosis, others undergo
apoptosis as a regulated response to stress.
2. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of cells
resulting from an increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
,C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia refers specifically to the increase in the number of cells within an
organ or tissue. This is different from hypertrophy, which is an increase in the size of
individual cells. Hyperplasia occurs in response to physiological or pathological stimuli,
such as hormonal changes or compensatory needs after injury.
3. A 50-year-old male with chronic smoking history has a biopsy of his bronchial lining
showing that normal columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified
squamous epithelial cells. This is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, less
differentiated cell type. In smokers, the delicate ciliated columnar cells of the airways are
often replaced by tougher squamous cells to withstand irritation. This adaptation provides
protection but results in the loss of critical functions like mucus clearance.
, 4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Free radicals
C. Chemical agents
D. Infectious agents
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the leading cause of cellular injury. It
typically results from ischemia, which is a reduced blood supply to tissues. Without oxygen,
cells cannot produce ATP through aerobic metabolism, leading to failure of the sodium-
potassium pump and cellular swelling.
5. In response to an increased workload, such as weightlifting, skeletal muscle cells will
experience which of the following?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical
stimuli or increased workload. Because skeletal and cardiac muscle cells cannot divide
