Chapter 04: Altered Cellular and Tissue Biology
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A report comes back indicating that muscular atrophy has occurred. A nurse recalls
that muscular atrophy involves a decrease in muscle cell:
a.
number.
b.
size.
c.
vacuoles.
d.
lipofuscin.
ANS: B
Atrophy is a decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of
cells. Vacuoles are membrane-bound vesicles within the cell that contain cellular debris and
hydrolytic enzymes. Lipofuscin is the yellow-brown age pigment.
REF: p. 74
2. During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as what type of
atrophy?
a.
Physiologic
b.
Pathologic
c.
Disuse
d.
Neurogenic
ANS: A
A normal decrease in cell size is physiologic atrophy. Atrophy can result from disease
(pathologic), disuse, or nerve injury (neurogenic).
REF: p. 74
3. When planning care for a cardiac patient, the nurse knows that in response to an increased
workload, cardiac myocardial cells will experience hypertrophy which is an:
a.
increase in size.
b.
decrease in length.
c.
increase in excitability.
d.
decrease in number.
ANS: A
Hypertrophy is a compensatory increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
(also called mechanical load or stress, such as from stretching, repetitive, chronic, pressure, or
volume overload) and consequently increases the size of the affected organ. The cells of the
heart and kidneys are particularly prone to enlargement. A decrease in length is not associated
with hypertrophy. A deficiency of electrolytes or minerals could lead to an increase in
excitability; it is not due to increased workload or related to hypertrophy. A decrease in cell
numbers is referred to as hypoplasia.
REF: p. 75
, 4. A 55-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is examined for respiratory disturbance.
Examination of his airway (bronchial) reveals that stratified squamous epithelial cells have
replaced the normal columnar ciliated cells. This type of cellular adaptation is called:
a.
anaplasia.
b.
hyperplasia.
c.
metaplasia.
d.
dysplasia.
ANS: C
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, sometimes a less
differentiated cell type. Anaplasia is loss of cellular differentiation. Hyperplasia is an increase
in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate of cellular division. Dysplasia refers to
abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells.
REF: p. 77
5. When planning care for the pregnant patient, the nurse will recall that the mammary glands
enlarge as a consequence of:
a.
compensatory hyperplasia.
b.
hormonal hyperplasia.
c.
hormonal anaplasia.
d.
compensatory anaplasia.
ANS: B
An increase in the mammary glands during pregnancy is a result of hormonal changes. The
number of mammary cells increases in response to increased hormone levels, not as a
compensatory mechanism. Anaplasia is a reversal to less mature cells.
REF: p. 76
6. A 24-year-old female presents with excessive menstrual bleeding. The physician identified
endometrial changes that are due to hormonal imbalances. These cellular changes would
be referred to as:
a.
dysplasia.
b.
pathologic dysplasia.
c.
hyperplasia.
d.
pathologic hyperplasia.
ANS: D
Because the changes are due to an imbalance, they would be considered pathologic
hyperplasia, a term more descriptive than simple hyperplasia. The endometrial changes were
not abnormal in size and shape; thus, it is not dysplasia regardless of cause.
REF: pp. 76-77
7. A 55-year-old male is diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer secondary to hepatitis C. If the
cancerous region of the liver is removed, the remaining cells would undergo:
a.
pathologic hyperplasia.
b.
pathologic metaplasia.
c.
compensatory hyperplasia.
d.
compensatory aplasia.
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A report comes back indicating that muscular atrophy has occurred. A nurse recalls
that muscular atrophy involves a decrease in muscle cell:
a.
number.
b.
size.
c.
vacuoles.
d.
lipofuscin.
ANS: B
Atrophy is a decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of
cells. Vacuoles are membrane-bound vesicles within the cell that contain cellular debris and
hydrolytic enzymes. Lipofuscin is the yellow-brown age pigment.
REF: p. 74
2. During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as what type of
atrophy?
a.
Physiologic
b.
Pathologic
c.
Disuse
d.
Neurogenic
ANS: A
A normal decrease in cell size is physiologic atrophy. Atrophy can result from disease
(pathologic), disuse, or nerve injury (neurogenic).
REF: p. 74
3. When planning care for a cardiac patient, the nurse knows that in response to an increased
workload, cardiac myocardial cells will experience hypertrophy which is an:
a.
increase in size.
b.
decrease in length.
c.
increase in excitability.
d.
decrease in number.
ANS: A
Hypertrophy is a compensatory increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
(also called mechanical load or stress, such as from stretching, repetitive, chronic, pressure, or
volume overload) and consequently increases the size of the affected organ. The cells of the
heart and kidneys are particularly prone to enlargement. A decrease in length is not associated
with hypertrophy. A deficiency of electrolytes or minerals could lead to an increase in
excitability; it is not due to increased workload or related to hypertrophy. A decrease in cell
numbers is referred to as hypoplasia.
REF: p. 75
, 4. A 55-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is examined for respiratory disturbance.
Examination of his airway (bronchial) reveals that stratified squamous epithelial cells have
replaced the normal columnar ciliated cells. This type of cellular adaptation is called:
a.
anaplasia.
b.
hyperplasia.
c.
metaplasia.
d.
dysplasia.
ANS: C
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, sometimes a less
differentiated cell type. Anaplasia is loss of cellular differentiation. Hyperplasia is an increase
in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate of cellular division. Dysplasia refers to
abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells.
REF: p. 77
5. When planning care for the pregnant patient, the nurse will recall that the mammary glands
enlarge as a consequence of:
a.
compensatory hyperplasia.
b.
hormonal hyperplasia.
c.
hormonal anaplasia.
d.
compensatory anaplasia.
ANS: B
An increase in the mammary glands during pregnancy is a result of hormonal changes. The
number of mammary cells increases in response to increased hormone levels, not as a
compensatory mechanism. Anaplasia is a reversal to less mature cells.
REF: p. 76
6. A 24-year-old female presents with excessive menstrual bleeding. The physician identified
endometrial changes that are due to hormonal imbalances. These cellular changes would
be referred to as:
a.
dysplasia.
b.
pathologic dysplasia.
c.
hyperplasia.
d.
pathologic hyperplasia.
ANS: D
Because the changes are due to an imbalance, they would be considered pathologic
hyperplasia, a term more descriptive than simple hyperplasia. The endometrial changes were
not abnormal in size and shape; thus, it is not dysplasia regardless of cause.
REF: pp. 76-77
7. A 55-year-old male is diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer secondary to hepatitis C. If the
cancerous region of the liver is removed, the remaining cells would undergo:
a.
pathologic hyperplasia.
b.
pathologic metaplasia.
c.
compensatory hyperplasia.
d.
compensatory aplasia.
