NURS | 302
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
Pathophysiology
Exam 1
NURS 302 | 2026/2027
75 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Cellular Adaptation & Injury Neoplasia & Cancer Biology
Inflammation & Repair Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances
Genetics & Genetic Disorders
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Cellular Adaptation & Injury | Q1-Q15 | NURS 302 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 75
A 55-year-old man with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. Which cellular adaptation best describes this change?
A. A. Atrophy due to decreased workload
B. B. Hypertrophy due to increased workload
C. C. Hyperplasia due to hormonal stimulation
D. D. Metaplasia from chronic irritation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload, as seen in cardiac muscle. Atrophy is decrease in size. Hyperplasia is increase in number. Metaplasia is change in cell type.
Q2 Question 2 of 75
A 42-year-old woman has a cast removed after 8 weeks. Her calf muscle is visibly smaller. Which process explains the muscle change?
A. A. Hypertrophy
B. B. Hyperplasia
C. C. Atrophy
D. D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Disuse atrophy causes decrease in cell size due to reduced workload. Hypertrophy increases size. Hyperplasia increases cell number. Metaplasia changes cell type.
Q3 Question 3 of 75
A 60-year-old smoker has squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium. Which stimulus most likely caused this adaptation?
A. A. Hormonal stimulation
B. B. Chronic irritation from cigarette smoke
C. C. Decreased blood supply
D. D. Viral infection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metaplasia is a reversible change to another cell type in response to chronic irritation, common in smokers' bronchi. Hormones cause hyperplasia. Ischemia causes atrophy. Viruses may cause hyperplasia or
injury.
Q4 Question 4 of 75
A patient develops coagulative necrosis after a myocardial infarction. Which feature is characteristic of this type of necrosis?
A. A. Liquefactive digestion by enzymes
B. B. Preservation of tissue architecture with protein denaturation
C. C. Caseous cheese-like appearance
D. D. Fat saponification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Coagulative necrosis preserves architecture due to protein denaturation, typical in ischemic tissues like heart. Liquefactive is in brain or abscess. Caseous is in TB. Fat necrosis is enzymatic in pancreas.
Q5 Question 5 of 75
A 35-year-old has fatty change in the liver from alcohol abuse. Which cellular injury mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. A. Free radical damage to membranes
B. B. Accumulation of triglycerides due to impaired metabolism
C. C. Apoptosis from DNA damage
D. D. Calcification of mitochondria
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) results from imbalance in lipid metabolism, often from alcohol impairing oxidation. Free radicals cause membrane damage. Apoptosis is programmed death. Calcification is dystrophic.
NURS 302 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 75% | Page 2 of 2
, Q6 Question 6 of 75
A tissue sample shows cells with pyknotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm after ischemia. Which process has occurred?
A. A. Reversible injury
B. B. Irreversible necrosis
C. C. Hyperplasia
D. D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Pyknotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm indicate irreversible cell death (necrosis). Reversible injury shows swelling and blebs. Hyperplasia and metaplasia are adaptations, not death.
Q7 Question 7 of 75
A 50-year-old has atrophy of the thymus with age. Which type of atrophy is this?
A. A. Pathologic atrophy from disuse
B. B. Physiologic atrophy from aging
C. C. Hypertrophic atrophy
D. D. Compensatory atrophy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Thymic involution is normal physiologic atrophy with aging. Pathologic is from disease. There is no hypertrophic atrophy. Compensatory is enlargement.
Q8 Question 8 of 75
A patient has metaplasia of the esophageal squamous epithelium to columnar due to chronic reflux. Which condition is this?
A. A. Barrett esophagus
B. B. Esophageal varices
C. C. Achalasia
D. D. Esophagitis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Barrett esophagus is metaplasia of squamous to columnar epithelium from GERD. Varices are dilated veins. Achalasia is motility disorder. Esophagitis is inflammation.
Q9 Question 9 of 75
Which cellular change is considered a precursor to neoplasia in some cases?
A. A. Atrophy
B. B. Hyperplasia
C. C. Metaplasia
D. D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Metaplasia can be a precursor if the new cell type is more susceptible to malignant transformation, as in Barrett. Atrophy, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy are usually reversible adaptations without direct neoplastic
risk.
Q10 Question 10 of 75
A 28-year-old has a wound with granulation tissue. Which process is occurring during the repair phase?
A. A. Primary intention healing with minimal scarring
B. B. Secondary intention with granulation and contraction
C. C. Tertiary healing
D. D. Regeneration without inflammation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Secondary intention involves granulation tissue, contraction, and more scarring for larger wounds. Primary is clean edges with little granulation. Tertiary is delayed closure. Regeneration is ideal but not always
possible.
NURS 302 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 75% | Page 3 of 3
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
Pathophysiology
Exam 1
NURS 302 | 2026/2027
75 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Cellular Adaptation & Injury Neoplasia & Cancer Biology
Inflammation & Repair Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances
Genetics & Genetic Disorders
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Cellular Adaptation & Injury | Q1-Q15 | NURS 302 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 75
A 55-year-old man with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. Which cellular adaptation best describes this change?
A. A. Atrophy due to decreased workload
B. B. Hypertrophy due to increased workload
C. C. Hyperplasia due to hormonal stimulation
D. D. Metaplasia from chronic irritation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload, as seen in cardiac muscle. Atrophy is decrease in size. Hyperplasia is increase in number. Metaplasia is change in cell type.
Q2 Question 2 of 75
A 42-year-old woman has a cast removed after 8 weeks. Her calf muscle is visibly smaller. Which process explains the muscle change?
A. A. Hypertrophy
B. B. Hyperplasia
C. C. Atrophy
D. D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Disuse atrophy causes decrease in cell size due to reduced workload. Hypertrophy increases size. Hyperplasia increases cell number. Metaplasia changes cell type.
Q3 Question 3 of 75
A 60-year-old smoker has squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium. Which stimulus most likely caused this adaptation?
A. A. Hormonal stimulation
B. B. Chronic irritation from cigarette smoke
C. C. Decreased blood supply
D. D. Viral infection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metaplasia is a reversible change to another cell type in response to chronic irritation, common in smokers' bronchi. Hormones cause hyperplasia. Ischemia causes atrophy. Viruses may cause hyperplasia or
injury.
Q4 Question 4 of 75
A patient develops coagulative necrosis after a myocardial infarction. Which feature is characteristic of this type of necrosis?
A. A. Liquefactive digestion by enzymes
B. B. Preservation of tissue architecture with protein denaturation
C. C. Caseous cheese-like appearance
D. D. Fat saponification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Coagulative necrosis preserves architecture due to protein denaturation, typical in ischemic tissues like heart. Liquefactive is in brain or abscess. Caseous is in TB. Fat necrosis is enzymatic in pancreas.
Q5 Question 5 of 75
A 35-year-old has fatty change in the liver from alcohol abuse. Which cellular injury mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. A. Free radical damage to membranes
B. B. Accumulation of triglycerides due to impaired metabolism
C. C. Apoptosis from DNA damage
D. D. Calcification of mitochondria
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) results from imbalance in lipid metabolism, often from alcohol impairing oxidation. Free radicals cause membrane damage. Apoptosis is programmed death. Calcification is dystrophic.
NURS 302 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 75% | Page 2 of 2
, Q6 Question 6 of 75
A tissue sample shows cells with pyknotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm after ischemia. Which process has occurred?
A. A. Reversible injury
B. B. Irreversible necrosis
C. C. Hyperplasia
D. D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Pyknotic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm indicate irreversible cell death (necrosis). Reversible injury shows swelling and blebs. Hyperplasia and metaplasia are adaptations, not death.
Q7 Question 7 of 75
A 50-year-old has atrophy of the thymus with age. Which type of atrophy is this?
A. A. Pathologic atrophy from disuse
B. B. Physiologic atrophy from aging
C. C. Hypertrophic atrophy
D. D. Compensatory atrophy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Thymic involution is normal physiologic atrophy with aging. Pathologic is from disease. There is no hypertrophic atrophy. Compensatory is enlargement.
Q8 Question 8 of 75
A patient has metaplasia of the esophageal squamous epithelium to columnar due to chronic reflux. Which condition is this?
A. A. Barrett esophagus
B. B. Esophageal varices
C. C. Achalasia
D. D. Esophagitis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Barrett esophagus is metaplasia of squamous to columnar epithelium from GERD. Varices are dilated veins. Achalasia is motility disorder. Esophagitis is inflammation.
Q9 Question 9 of 75
Which cellular change is considered a precursor to neoplasia in some cases?
A. A. Atrophy
B. B. Hyperplasia
C. C. Metaplasia
D. D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Metaplasia can be a precursor if the new cell type is more susceptible to malignant transformation, as in Barrett. Atrophy, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy are usually reversible adaptations without direct neoplastic
risk.
Q10 Question 10 of 75
A 28-year-old has a wound with granulation tissue. Which process is occurring during the repair phase?
A. A. Primary intention healing with minimal scarring
B. B. Secondary intention with granulation and contraction
C. C. Tertiary healing
D. D. Regeneration without inflammation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Secondary intention involves granulation tissue, contraction, and more scarring for larger wounds. Primary is clean edges with little granulation. Tertiary is delayed closure. Regeneration is ideal but not always
possible.
NURS 302 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 75% | Page 3 of 3
