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NSG 530 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
- WILKES UNIVERSITY (GRADUATE NURSING
PROGRAM)
Question 1
A client with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. The
nurse practitioner explains that the myocardial cells have increased in size due to
increased workload. This cellular change is best classified as which adaptive
process?
A. Hypertrophy due to increased functional demand
B. Atrophy due to disuse
C. Hyperplasia due to hormonal stimulation
D. Metaplasia due to conversion of one cell type to another
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased
workload, seen in pressure overload states such as hypertension. Atrophy is a
decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is
replacement of one cell type with another.
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Question 2
A chronic smoker's respiratory epithelium most likely undergoes which
metaplastic change?
A. Replacement of ciliated columnar epithelium with stratified squamous
epithelium
B. Increased number of goblet cells only
C. Atrophy of all epithelial cells
D. No change in epithelial type
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic irritation drives metaplastic replacement of normal respiratory
epithelium, where ciliated columnar epithelium transforms into stratified
squamous epithelium, a classic adaptive response in smokers' airways.
Question 3
Hypoxic cellular injury leads to failure of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump. The resulting
consequence is:
A. Calcium influx only
B. Potassium influx and cellular shrinkage
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C. Sodium and water influx causing cellular swelling
D. No change in cell volume
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATP depletion causes sodium-potassium pump dysfunction, allowing
sodium and water to enter the cell, resulting in cellular swelling.
Question 4
Apoptosis is characterized by:
A. Fat necrosis only
B. Uncontrolled cell death with inflammation
C. Cellular swelling only
D. Programmed cell death with chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation
without inflammation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is orderly programmed cell death marked by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing without
inflammation.
Question 5
NSG 530 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
- WILKES UNIVERSITY (GRADUATE NURSING
PROGRAM)
Question 1
A client with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. The
nurse practitioner explains that the myocardial cells have increased in size due to
increased workload. This cellular change is best classified as which adaptive
process?
A. Hypertrophy due to increased functional demand
B. Atrophy due to disuse
C. Hyperplasia due to hormonal stimulation
D. Metaplasia due to conversion of one cell type to another
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased
workload, seen in pressure overload states such as hypertension. Atrophy is a
decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is
replacement of one cell type with another.
,2|Page
Question 2
A chronic smoker's respiratory epithelium most likely undergoes which
metaplastic change?
A. Replacement of ciliated columnar epithelium with stratified squamous
epithelium
B. Increased number of goblet cells only
C. Atrophy of all epithelial cells
D. No change in epithelial type
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic irritation drives metaplastic replacement of normal respiratory
epithelium, where ciliated columnar epithelium transforms into stratified
squamous epithelium, a classic adaptive response in smokers' airways.
Question 3
Hypoxic cellular injury leads to failure of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump. The resulting
consequence is:
A. Calcium influx only
B. Potassium influx and cellular shrinkage
, 3|Page
C. Sodium and water influx causing cellular swelling
D. No change in cell volume
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATP depletion causes sodium-potassium pump dysfunction, allowing
sodium and water to enter the cell, resulting in cellular swelling.
Question 4
Apoptosis is characterized by:
A. Fat necrosis only
B. Uncontrolled cell death with inflammation
C. Cellular swelling only
D. Programmed cell death with chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation
without inflammation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is orderly programmed cell death marked by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing without
inflammation.
Question 5
