NURS 231 FINAL EXAM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 UPDATE
1. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in the size of cells,
leading to a reduction in the size of the organ?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size caused by decreased
workload, loss of nerve supply, poor nutrition, or aging.
2. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic
injury to the heart?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs primarily in the kidneys, heart,
and adrenal glands due to severe ischemia or hypoxia.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury in reperfusion
injury?
A) Lack of oxygen
B) Accumulation of free radicals
,C) Decreased ATP production
D) Loss of membrane integrity
Answer: B
Rationale: Reperfusion introduces oxygen to damaged tissues, leading
to a burst of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that exacerbate cell
damage.
4. A patient has a genetic disorder caused by a single gene mutation.
Which term describes the observable traits of this disorder?
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Allele
D) Karyotype
Answer: B
Rationale: The phenotype is the physical, biochemical, and physiological
manifestation of a person's genotype.
5. Which condition is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder?
A) Cystic fibrosis
B) Sickle cell anemia
C) Huntington's disease
D) Phenylketonuria
Answer: C
Rationale: Huntington's disease requires only one mutated allele from a
parent to manifest the disease.
6. A patient with chronic bronchitis has an increased number of goblet
cells and mucus glands. This is an example of which adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
,C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ
or tissue, often in response to chronic irritation.
7. Which vitamin deficiency is most directly associated with impaired
collagen synthesis and poor wound healing?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin K
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin C is essential for the hydroxylation of proline and
lysine, which is necessary for collagen synthesis.
8. What is the primary function of histamine in the acute
inflammatory response?
A) Chemotaxis of neutrophils
B) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
C) Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
D) Activation of the complement system
Answer: C
Rationale: Histamine is released by mast cells and causes vasodilation
and increased vascular permeability, leading to redness and swelling.
9. Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for Type I
hypersensitivity reactions?
A) IgG
B) IgM
, C) IgA
D) IgE
Answer: D
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering the release
of histamine and other mediators upon exposure to an allergen.
10. A patient with an autoimmune disease has antibodies directed
against their own DNA. Which disease is this most characteristic of?
A) Rheumatoid arthritis
B) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
C) Multiple sclerosis
D) Type 1 diabetes
Answer: B
Rationale: SLE is characterized by the production of antinuclear
antibodies (ANAs), including anti-dsDNA.
11. What is the primary target of the HIV virus?
A) B lymphocytes
B) CD4+ T helper cells
C) Red blood cells
D) Neutrophils
Answer: B
Rationale: HIV binds to the CD4 receptor on T helper cells, leading to
their destruction and subsequent immunodeficiency.
12. Which condition is classified as a Type IV, delayed hypersensitivity
reaction?
A) Anaphylaxis
B) Hemolytic transfusion reaction
C) Contact dermatitis
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 UPDATE
1. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in the size of cells,
leading to a reduction in the size of the organ?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size caused by decreased
workload, loss of nerve supply, poor nutrition, or aging.
2. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic
injury to the heart?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs primarily in the kidneys, heart,
and adrenal glands due to severe ischemia or hypoxia.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury in reperfusion
injury?
A) Lack of oxygen
B) Accumulation of free radicals
,C) Decreased ATP production
D) Loss of membrane integrity
Answer: B
Rationale: Reperfusion introduces oxygen to damaged tissues, leading
to a burst of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that exacerbate cell
damage.
4. A patient has a genetic disorder caused by a single gene mutation.
Which term describes the observable traits of this disorder?
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Allele
D) Karyotype
Answer: B
Rationale: The phenotype is the physical, biochemical, and physiological
manifestation of a person's genotype.
5. Which condition is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder?
A) Cystic fibrosis
B) Sickle cell anemia
C) Huntington's disease
D) Phenylketonuria
Answer: C
Rationale: Huntington's disease requires only one mutated allele from a
parent to manifest the disease.
6. A patient with chronic bronchitis has an increased number of goblet
cells and mucus glands. This is an example of which adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
,C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ
or tissue, often in response to chronic irritation.
7. Which vitamin deficiency is most directly associated with impaired
collagen synthesis and poor wound healing?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin K
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin C is essential for the hydroxylation of proline and
lysine, which is necessary for collagen synthesis.
8. What is the primary function of histamine in the acute
inflammatory response?
A) Chemotaxis of neutrophils
B) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
C) Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
D) Activation of the complement system
Answer: C
Rationale: Histamine is released by mast cells and causes vasodilation
and increased vascular permeability, leading to redness and swelling.
9. Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for Type I
hypersensitivity reactions?
A) IgG
B) IgM
, C) IgA
D) IgE
Answer: D
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering the release
of histamine and other mediators upon exposure to an allergen.
10. A patient with an autoimmune disease has antibodies directed
against their own DNA. Which disease is this most characteristic of?
A) Rheumatoid arthritis
B) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
C) Multiple sclerosis
D) Type 1 diabetes
Answer: B
Rationale: SLE is characterized by the production of antinuclear
antibodies (ANAs), including anti-dsDNA.
11. What is the primary target of the HIV virus?
A) B lymphocytes
B) CD4+ T helper cells
C) Red blood cells
D) Neutrophils
Answer: B
Rationale: HIV binds to the CD4 receptor on T helper cells, leading to
their destruction and subsequent immunodeficiency.
12. Which condition is classified as a Type IV, delayed hypersensitivity
reaction?
A) Anaphylaxis
B) Hemolytic transfusion reaction
C) Contact dermatitis
