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NSG 3250 ADULT HEALTH I EXAM 1 (GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING). EXAM
— COMPREHENSIVE —EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q1. A nurse is reviewing cellular adaptation. Which term describes a decrease in
cell size due to reduced workload or nutrient deficiency?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size resulting from reduced workload, nutrient
deficiency, loss of innervation, or decreased blood supply.
Q2. Which cellular adaptation involves the reversible replacement of one mature
cell type by another?
A) Hyperplasia
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B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often in response to chronic irritation.
Q3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy.
Which cellular adaptation does this represent?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, which occurs in cardiac myocytes in
response to chronic pressure overload.
Q4. Which of the following is a potentially precancerous cellular change
characterized by abnormal variations in cell size, shape, and organization?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cellular growth with abnormal variations in size,
shape, and organization and is considered a precancerous state.
Q5. Which type of cell death is mediated by caspases and is considered a
programmed, regulated process?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Liquefactive necrosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a programmed form of cell death mediated by caspases,
involving cell shrinkage and fragmentation without significant inflammation.
Q6. Which finding is characteristic of reversible cell injury rather than irreversible
injury?
A) Loss of membrane integrity
B) Cellular swelling due to ion pump failure
C) Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
D) Cell death
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cellular swelling caused by failure of ATP-dependent ion pumps is a hallmark
of reversible cell injury.
Q7. During ischemia, the initial depletion of ATP leads to failure of which
membrane pump, causing cellular swelling?
A) Calcium ATPase
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B) Sodium–potassium ATPase
C) Proton pump
D) Glucose transporter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATP depletion causes failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump, leading to
intracellular sodium and water accumulation and cellular swelling.
Q8. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic injury in
solid organs such as the heart and kidney?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the morphologic pattern of necrosis commonly
associated with ischemic injury in solid organs.
Q9. Which form of cell death is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture,
and inflammation?
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Autophagy
D) Senescence
Correct Answer: B
NSG 3250 ADULT HEALTH I EXAM 1 (GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING). EXAM
— COMPREHENSIVE —EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q1. A nurse is reviewing cellular adaptation. Which term describes a decrease in
cell size due to reduced workload or nutrient deficiency?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size resulting from reduced workload, nutrient
deficiency, loss of innervation, or decreased blood supply.
Q2. Which cellular adaptation involves the reversible replacement of one mature
cell type by another?
A) Hyperplasia
, Page 2 of 113
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often in response to chronic irritation.
Q3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy.
Which cellular adaptation does this represent?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, which occurs in cardiac myocytes in
response to chronic pressure overload.
Q4. Which of the following is a potentially precancerous cellular change
characterized by abnormal variations in cell size, shape, and organization?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B
, Page 3 of 113
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cellular growth with abnormal variations in size,
shape, and organization and is considered a precancerous state.
Q5. Which type of cell death is mediated by caspases and is considered a
programmed, regulated process?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Liquefactive necrosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a programmed form of cell death mediated by caspases,
involving cell shrinkage and fragmentation without significant inflammation.
Q6. Which finding is characteristic of reversible cell injury rather than irreversible
injury?
A) Loss of membrane integrity
B) Cellular swelling due to ion pump failure
C) Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
D) Cell death
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cellular swelling caused by failure of ATP-dependent ion pumps is a hallmark
of reversible cell injury.
Q7. During ischemia, the initial depletion of ATP leads to failure of which
membrane pump, causing cellular swelling?
A) Calcium ATPase
, Page 4 of 113
B) Sodium–potassium ATPase
C) Proton pump
D) Glucose transporter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATP depletion causes failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump, leading to
intracellular sodium and water accumulation and cellular swelling.
Q8. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic injury in
solid organs such as the heart and kidney?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the morphologic pattern of necrosis commonly
associated with ischemic injury in solid organs.
Q9. Which form of cell death is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture,
and inflammation?
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Autophagy
D) Senescence
Correct Answer: B
