NURS 320 Exam 1 – Health and Illness Concepts I –
(2026) Actual Questions & Answers (Drexel) 100%
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SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. Apoptosis is best described as:
• A) Unregulated cell death with inflammation
• B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
• C) Cell division in response to injury
• D) Cellular adaptation to stress
Answer: B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in a
controlled manner without eliciting an inflammatory response. It is essential for
normal development, tissue homeostasis, and elimination of damaged cells.
Necrosis is unregulated cell death associated with inflammation .
2. A 55-year-old smoker develops squamous metaplasia in the bronchial
epithelium. What is the most accurate description of this process?
• A) Replacement of normal columnar epithelium with stratified squamous
epithelium
• B) Increased number of goblet cells in the airways
• C) Decreased size of bronchial epithelial cells
• D) Malignant transformation of bronchial cells
,Answer: A) Replacement of normal columnar epithelium with stratified
squamous epithelium
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another cell type. In the respiratory tract of smokers, chronic irritation
causes the normal pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium to be replaced by
stratified squamous epithelium, which is more resistant to irritation but loses its
protective ciliary function .
3. Which of the following is an example of physiological hyperplasia?
• A) Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen
• B) Hypertrophy of the heart in hypertension
• C) Atrophy of the thymus gland
• D) Squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium
Answer: A) Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen
Rationale: Physiological hyperplasia is a normal adaptive response to a stimulus.
Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen during the menstrual cycle is an
example. Pathological hyperplasia can be caused by abnormal hormone
stimulation or growth factors. Hypertrophy, atrophy, and metaplasia are other
forms of cellular adaptation .
4. Atrophy is characterized by:
• A) Increased cell size
• B) Increased cell number
• C) Decreased cell size
• D) Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C) Decreased cell size
,Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often resulting from
decreased workload, denervation, diminished blood supply, inadequate nutrition,
or loss of endocrine stimulation. Atrophic cells may contain increased numbers of
autophagic vacuoles and lipofuscin granules .
5. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with tuberculosis
infections?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of necrosis characterized by a "cheesy"
appearance of the tissue and is commonly associated with tuberculosis infections.
It represents a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis and is often
surrounded by granulomatous inflammation .
6. Reperfusion injury after ischemic stroke is primarily caused by which
mechanism?
• A) Increased oxygen delivery to the tissue
• B) Generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
• C) Decreased cellular metabolism
• D) Reduced inflammatory response
Answer: B) Generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when blood supply is restored to ischemic
tissue, paradoxically causing further damage. The reintroduction of oxygen leads
, to the generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) such as superoxide,
hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. These molecules cause lipid
peroxidation of cell membranes, protein oxidation, and DNA damage .
7. Which of the following is a function of the cell membrane?
• A) Selective permeability
• B) Cell-to-cell communication
• C) Protection from the external environment
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: The cell membrane has multiple functions, including selective
permeability (controlling what enters and leaves the cell), cell-to-cell
communication (via receptors and signaling molecules), and protection from the
external environment. The phospholipid bilayer and membrane proteins are
essential for these functions .
8. Peroxisomes are involved in:
• A) Protein synthesis
• B) Lipid metabolism and detoxification
• C) ATP production
• D) DNA replication
Answer: B) Lipid metabolism and detoxification
Rationale: Peroxisomes are organelles that contain enzymes for the breakdown of
fatty acids (beta-oxidation) and the detoxification of harmful substances, including
hydrogen peroxide (converted to water and oxygen by catalase). They are involved
in lipid metabolism and the synthesis of bile acids .
(2026) Actual Questions & Answers (Drexel) 100%
Guarantee Pass
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. Apoptosis is best described as:
• A) Unregulated cell death with inflammation
• B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
• C) Cell division in response to injury
• D) Cellular adaptation to stress
Answer: B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in a
controlled manner without eliciting an inflammatory response. It is essential for
normal development, tissue homeostasis, and elimination of damaged cells.
Necrosis is unregulated cell death associated with inflammation .
2. A 55-year-old smoker develops squamous metaplasia in the bronchial
epithelium. What is the most accurate description of this process?
• A) Replacement of normal columnar epithelium with stratified squamous
epithelium
• B) Increased number of goblet cells in the airways
• C) Decreased size of bronchial epithelial cells
• D) Malignant transformation of bronchial cells
,Answer: A) Replacement of normal columnar epithelium with stratified
squamous epithelium
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another cell type. In the respiratory tract of smokers, chronic irritation
causes the normal pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium to be replaced by
stratified squamous epithelium, which is more resistant to irritation but loses its
protective ciliary function .
3. Which of the following is an example of physiological hyperplasia?
• A) Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen
• B) Hypertrophy of the heart in hypertension
• C) Atrophy of the thymus gland
• D) Squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium
Answer: A) Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen
Rationale: Physiological hyperplasia is a normal adaptive response to a stimulus.
Endometrial hyperplasia in response to estrogen during the menstrual cycle is an
example. Pathological hyperplasia can be caused by abnormal hormone
stimulation or growth factors. Hypertrophy, atrophy, and metaplasia are other
forms of cellular adaptation .
4. Atrophy is characterized by:
• A) Increased cell size
• B) Increased cell number
• C) Decreased cell size
• D) Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C) Decreased cell size
,Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often resulting from
decreased workload, denervation, diminished blood supply, inadequate nutrition,
or loss of endocrine stimulation. Atrophic cells may contain increased numbers of
autophagic vacuoles and lipofuscin granules .
5. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with tuberculosis
infections?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of necrosis characterized by a "cheesy"
appearance of the tissue and is commonly associated with tuberculosis infections.
It represents a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis and is often
surrounded by granulomatous inflammation .
6. Reperfusion injury after ischemic stroke is primarily caused by which
mechanism?
• A) Increased oxygen delivery to the tissue
• B) Generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
• C) Decreased cellular metabolism
• D) Reduced inflammatory response
Answer: B) Generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when blood supply is restored to ischemic
tissue, paradoxically causing further damage. The reintroduction of oxygen leads
, to the generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) such as superoxide,
hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. These molecules cause lipid
peroxidation of cell membranes, protein oxidation, and DNA damage .
7. Which of the following is a function of the cell membrane?
• A) Selective permeability
• B) Cell-to-cell communication
• C) Protection from the external environment
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: The cell membrane has multiple functions, including selective
permeability (controlling what enters and leaves the cell), cell-to-cell
communication (via receptors and signaling molecules), and protection from the
external environment. The phospholipid bilayer and membrane proteins are
essential for these functions .
8. Peroxisomes are involved in:
• A) Protein synthesis
• B) Lipid metabolism and detoxification
• C) ATP production
• D) DNA replication
Answer: B) Lipid metabolism and detoxification
Rationale: Peroxisomes are organelles that contain enzymes for the breakdown of
fatty acids (beta-oxidation) and the detoxification of harmful substances, including
hydrogen peroxide (converted to water and oxygen by catalase). They are involved
in lipid metabolism and the synthesis of bile acids .
