NSG 5140 Final Exam Practice Questions | 75 Q&A
with Rationales | Advanced Pathophysiology | South
College 2026 NSG 5140 Final Exam Practice
Questions High-Yield Questions with Answers &
Rationales
INTRO
Complete NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam practice. 75 questions
with answers and rationales covering cellular function, inflammation, immunity,
cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, and GI pathophysiology.
Includes:
Cellular adaptation (hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, atrophy)
Types of necrosis (coagulative, liquefactive, caseous)
Hypersensitivity reactions (Type I–IV)
Fluid and electrolyte imbalances (hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia)
Acid-base disorders (metabolic acidosis/alkalosis, respiratory acidosis)
Heart failure (HFpEF, S3 gallop, aortic dissection)
COPD and ARDS pathophysiology
Diabetes (DKA, HHS, type 1 vs type 2)
Hepatic encephalopathy and prerenal azotemia
Perfect for South College MSN/NP students. Instant download – study anywhere!
Exam Quick Facts
Feature Details
Course NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology
Institution South College
, Focus Cellular adaptation, inflammation, immunity, fluid/electrolytes, organ
system pathophysiology
Format Multiple-choice with rationales
SECTION 1: Cellular Function, Injury & Adaptation (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular wall thickening. Which
mechanism best explains this adaptation?
A) Increased myocyte number due to cell division
B) Increased myocyte size due to increased workload
C) Replacement of cardiac cells with fibrous tissue
D) Transformation of cardiac cells into smooth muscle
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated and respond to increased
workload primarily through hypertrophy (an increase in individual cell size), not hyperplasia
(an increase in cell number) .
Question 2
During ischemic injury, loss of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) most directly leads to:
A) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B) Failure of the sodium–potassium pump
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Mitochondrial membrane stabilization
Answer: B
Rationale: ATP is required for the function of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump. Its depletion
causes this pump to fail, leading to an influx of sodium and water into the cell, which results
in cellular swelling and is a key event in the pathway to cell death .
,Question 3
A patient's biopsy reveals an increase in the number of breast glandular cells due to
hormonal stimulation. What is this cellular adaptation called?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, often in
response to hormonal stimulation. Breast glandular cells during puberty or pregnancy are
examples .
Question 4
Which cellular adaptation is characterized by the replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another, often in response to chronic irritation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often in response to chronic irritation. For example, in chronic smokers, the normal
columnar epithelium of the respiratory tract may undergo squamous metaplasia .
Question 5
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops Barrett's esophagus. This
is an example of which cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
, C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is the replacement of normal squamous epithelium with
columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid exposure—a classic example of metaplasia
that carries an increased risk of malignancy .
Question 6
Following a hypoxic event like a stroke, brain tissue often softens and liquefies. Which type
of necrosis is this?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the central nervous system (brain). It
is caused by the release of hydrolytic enzymes from dead cells and inflammatory cells,
which dissolve the tissue into a liquid, viscous mass .
Question 7
Which type of cell death is a programmed, energy-dependent process that does not trigger
inflammation?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autolysis
D) Gangrene
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis, or "programmed cell death," is an ATP-dependent, tightly
regulated process. It eliminates unwanted or damaged cells without releasing cellular
contents, thus avoiding an inflammatory response .
with Rationales | Advanced Pathophysiology | South
College 2026 NSG 5140 Final Exam Practice
Questions High-Yield Questions with Answers &
Rationales
INTRO
Complete NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam practice. 75 questions
with answers and rationales covering cellular function, inflammation, immunity,
cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, and GI pathophysiology.
Includes:
Cellular adaptation (hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, atrophy)
Types of necrosis (coagulative, liquefactive, caseous)
Hypersensitivity reactions (Type I–IV)
Fluid and electrolyte imbalances (hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia)
Acid-base disorders (metabolic acidosis/alkalosis, respiratory acidosis)
Heart failure (HFpEF, S3 gallop, aortic dissection)
COPD and ARDS pathophysiology
Diabetes (DKA, HHS, type 1 vs type 2)
Hepatic encephalopathy and prerenal azotemia
Perfect for South College MSN/NP students. Instant download – study anywhere!
Exam Quick Facts
Feature Details
Course NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology
Institution South College
, Focus Cellular adaptation, inflammation, immunity, fluid/electrolytes, organ
system pathophysiology
Format Multiple-choice with rationales
SECTION 1: Cellular Function, Injury & Adaptation (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular wall thickening. Which
mechanism best explains this adaptation?
A) Increased myocyte number due to cell division
B) Increased myocyte size due to increased workload
C) Replacement of cardiac cells with fibrous tissue
D) Transformation of cardiac cells into smooth muscle
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated and respond to increased
workload primarily through hypertrophy (an increase in individual cell size), not hyperplasia
(an increase in cell number) .
Question 2
During ischemic injury, loss of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) most directly leads to:
A) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B) Failure of the sodium–potassium pump
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Mitochondrial membrane stabilization
Answer: B
Rationale: ATP is required for the function of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump. Its depletion
causes this pump to fail, leading to an influx of sodium and water into the cell, which results
in cellular swelling and is a key event in the pathway to cell death .
,Question 3
A patient's biopsy reveals an increase in the number of breast glandular cells due to
hormonal stimulation. What is this cellular adaptation called?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, often in
response to hormonal stimulation. Breast glandular cells during puberty or pregnancy are
examples .
Question 4
Which cellular adaptation is characterized by the replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another, often in response to chronic irritation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often in response to chronic irritation. For example, in chronic smokers, the normal
columnar epithelium of the respiratory tract may undergo squamous metaplasia .
Question 5
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops Barrett's esophagus. This
is an example of which cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
, C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is the replacement of normal squamous epithelium with
columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid exposure—a classic example of metaplasia
that carries an increased risk of malignancy .
Question 6
Following a hypoxic event like a stroke, brain tissue often softens and liquefies. Which type
of necrosis is this?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the central nervous system (brain). It
is caused by the release of hydrolytic enzymes from dead cells and inflammatory cells,
which dissolve the tissue into a liquid, viscous mass .
Question 7
Which type of cell death is a programmed, energy-dependent process that does not trigger
inflammation?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autolysis
D) Gangrene
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis, or "programmed cell death," is an ATP-dependent, tightly
regulated process. It eliminates unwanted or damaged cells without releasing cellular
contents, thus avoiding an inflammatory response .
