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NSG 3280 Exam 2 Pathophysiology for Nurses Newest
Exam Preparation With Complete Questions And
Correct Answers With Rationales Already Graded
A+Brand New Version!!
1. A patient with chronic anemia experiences fatigue and shortness of
breath. Which cellular adaptation is most likely occurring in response to
the decreased oxygen delivery?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size that occurs in
response to increased workload or demand. In chronic anemia, the
heart must work harder to pump oxygenated blood, leading to cardiac
myocyte hypertrophy to maintain cardiac output. Atrophy is a decrease
in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is a
change in cell type.
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2. A nurse is caring for a patient with prolonged ischemia to a lower
extremity. Which cellular change is most directly responsible for
irreversible cell injury?
A) Sodium-potassium pump dysfunction
B) Mitochondrial permeability transition
C) Ribosomal detachment
D) Golgi apparatus fragmentation
Answer: B) Mitochondrial permeability transition
Explanation: The mitochondrial permeability transition pore opens
during severe ischemia, leading to loss of mitochondrial membrane
potential, cessation of ATP production, and release of pro-apoptotic
factors. This event is a critical point of no return in ischemic cell death.
While sodium-potassium pump dysfunction and ribosomal detachment
occur, they are reversible if oxygen is restored. Mitochondrial
dysfunction marks irreversible injury.
3. A patient with a history of alcoholism presents with a liver biopsy
showing hepatocytes with large, pale-staining vacuoles. Which
intracellular accumulation is most likely present?
A) Glycogen
B) Lipofuscin
C) Triglycerides
D) Hemosiderin
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Answer: C) Triglycerides
Explanation: The description is consistent with fatty liver (steatosis),
where hepatocytes accumulate triglycerides due to impaired
metabolism from alcohol exposure. Glycogen accumulation is seen in
glycogen storage diseases, lipofuscin is "wear and tear" pigment, and
hemosiderin is iron accumulation.
4. During a wound healing process, a nurse notes granulation tissue
formation. Which cell type is primarily responsible for the production of
this new tissue?
A) Macrophages
B) Fibroblasts
C) Neutrophils
D) Endothelial cells
Answer: B) Fibroblasts
Explanation: Fibroblasts are the primary cells responsible for
synthesizing collagen and extracellular matrix components that form
granulation tissue. Macrophages are important for debridement and
signaling, neutrophils are early phagocytes, and endothelial cells form
new blood vessels (angiogenesis) within the granulation tissue.
5. A patient with a bacterial infection has an elevated neutrophil count.
This condition is best described as:
A) Leukopenia
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B) Leukocytosis
C) Thrombocytosis
D) Erythrocytosis
Answer: B) Leukocytosis
Explanation: Leukocytosis is an increase in the total number of white
blood cells, often in response to infection, with neutrophils being the
most common type elevated. Leukopenia is a decrease, thrombocytosis
involves platelets, and erythrocytosis involves red blood cells.
6. A nurse is teaching a patient about the inflammatory response.
Which chemical mediator is primarily responsible for initiating the
vasodilation and increased vascular permeability seen in acute
inflammation?
A) Histamine
B) Prostaglandins
C) Leukotrienes
D) Cytokines
Answer: A) Histamine
Explanation: Histamine, released from mast cells and basophils, causes
rapid vasodilation and increased vascular permeability, leading to
redness and swelling. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes also mediate
inflammation but have broader effects, and cytokines are signaling
molecules that modulate the immune response.
NSG 3280 Exam 2 Pathophysiology for Nurses Newest
Exam Preparation With Complete Questions And
Correct Answers With Rationales Already Graded
A+Brand New Version!!
1. A patient with chronic anemia experiences fatigue and shortness of
breath. Which cellular adaptation is most likely occurring in response to
the decreased oxygen delivery?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size that occurs in
response to increased workload or demand. In chronic anemia, the
heart must work harder to pump oxygenated blood, leading to cardiac
myocyte hypertrophy to maintain cardiac output. Atrophy is a decrease
in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is a
change in cell type.
,2|Page
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with prolonged ischemia to a lower
extremity. Which cellular change is most directly responsible for
irreversible cell injury?
A) Sodium-potassium pump dysfunction
B) Mitochondrial permeability transition
C) Ribosomal detachment
D) Golgi apparatus fragmentation
Answer: B) Mitochondrial permeability transition
Explanation: The mitochondrial permeability transition pore opens
during severe ischemia, leading to loss of mitochondrial membrane
potential, cessation of ATP production, and release of pro-apoptotic
factors. This event is a critical point of no return in ischemic cell death.
While sodium-potassium pump dysfunction and ribosomal detachment
occur, they are reversible if oxygen is restored. Mitochondrial
dysfunction marks irreversible injury.
3. A patient with a history of alcoholism presents with a liver biopsy
showing hepatocytes with large, pale-staining vacuoles. Which
intracellular accumulation is most likely present?
A) Glycogen
B) Lipofuscin
C) Triglycerides
D) Hemosiderin
,3|Page
Answer: C) Triglycerides
Explanation: The description is consistent with fatty liver (steatosis),
where hepatocytes accumulate triglycerides due to impaired
metabolism from alcohol exposure. Glycogen accumulation is seen in
glycogen storage diseases, lipofuscin is "wear and tear" pigment, and
hemosiderin is iron accumulation.
4. During a wound healing process, a nurse notes granulation tissue
formation. Which cell type is primarily responsible for the production of
this new tissue?
A) Macrophages
B) Fibroblasts
C) Neutrophils
D) Endothelial cells
Answer: B) Fibroblasts
Explanation: Fibroblasts are the primary cells responsible for
synthesizing collagen and extracellular matrix components that form
granulation tissue. Macrophages are important for debridement and
signaling, neutrophils are early phagocytes, and endothelial cells form
new blood vessels (angiogenesis) within the granulation tissue.
5. A patient with a bacterial infection has an elevated neutrophil count.
This condition is best described as:
A) Leukopenia
, 4|Page
B) Leukocytosis
C) Thrombocytosis
D) Erythrocytosis
Answer: B) Leukocytosis
Explanation: Leukocytosis is an increase in the total number of white
blood cells, often in response to infection, with neutrophils being the
most common type elevated. Leukopenia is a decrease, thrombocytosis
involves platelets, and erythrocytosis involves red blood cells.
6. A nurse is teaching a patient about the inflammatory response.
Which chemical mediator is primarily responsible for initiating the
vasodilation and increased vascular permeability seen in acute
inflammation?
A) Histamine
B) Prostaglandins
C) Leukotrienes
D) Cytokines
Answer: A) Histamine
Explanation: Histamine, released from mast cells and basophils, causes
rapid vasodilation and increased vascular permeability, leading to
redness and swelling. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes also mediate
inflammation but have broader effects, and cytokines are signaling
molecules that modulate the immune response.
