©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Central Concepts of Pathophysiology in
NSG5531 Exam Study Guide.
Nucleus - answer✔Contains nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complexes, RNA, DNA, histone
proteins; functions in cell division and control of genetic information.
Ribosomes - answer✔RNA protein complexes; free vs. attached ribosomes; synthesize proteins.
Endoplasmic reticulum - answer✔Network of tubular or saclike channels; smooth vs. rough ER;
site of protein synthesis and senses cellular stress.
Lysosomes - answer✔Saclike structures from Golgi; primary vs. secondary lysosomes; functions
in intracellular digestion, autodigestion, and autophagy.
Mitochondria - answer✔Surrounded by double membrane; cristae increase inner membrane
surface area; responsible for cellular respiration, energy production, and oxidative
phosphorylation.
Plasma membranes - answer✔Control composition of enclosed space; enclose cell; provide
selective transport system, cell-to-cell recognition, mobility, shape.
Membrane composition - answer✔Bilayer of lipids and proteins; fluid structure; lipids are
amphipathic; proteins are polypeptides with various functions.
Cellular receptors - answer✔Proteins on plasma membrane, cytoplasm, or nucleus; bind with
ligands; determine cell response to binding.
Extracellular matrix - answer✔Meshwork of fibrous proteins in gel-like substance; includes
collagen, elastin, fibronectin, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid; regulates cell growth, movement,
and differentiation.
Cellular Communication - answer✔Maintains homeostasis; regulates growth, division;
coordinates functions through contact-dependent, paracrine, autocrine, hormonal,
neurohormonal signaling.
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Metabolism - answer✔Chemical tasks maintaining cellular functions; includes anabolism
(energy using) and catabolism (energy releasing); ATP role in energy storage and transfer.
Food and production of cellular energy - answer✔Includes digestion, glycolysis, oxidation,
oxidative cellular metabolism, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Membrane transport - answer✔Passive (diffusion, filtration, osmosis) and active transport
mechanisms; involves solutes, electrolytes, non-electrolytes.
Osmotic pressure - answer✔Pressure opposing water movement due to concentration
gradient; oncotic pressure from colloids; osmolarity and osmolality measure solution
concentration.
Tonicity - answer✔Effective osmolality of a solution; isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic solutions
have different concentrations.
Active transport of Na+ and K+ - answer✔Antiport system moving Na+ out and K+ into cell using
ATP; electrogenic process with electrical potential difference.
Cellular Reproduction - answer✔Includes mitosis, cytokinesis, chromatin, chromosomes,
chromatids, and cell cycle phases (G1, S, G2, M).
Growth factors - answer✔Cytokines stimulating cellular growth and regeneration; platelet-
derived growth factor is an example.
Cellular Adaptation - answer✔Cell response to injury through atrophy, hypertrophy,
hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
Cellular Injury - answer✔Leads to tissue and organ damage; can be reversible or irreversible,
acute or chronic, involving necrosis, apoptosis, accumulation, or calcification.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion - answer✔One of the biochemical mechanisms of
cellular injury.
Mitochondrial damage - answer✔A factor contributing to cellular injury.
Calcium level alterations - answer✔A mechanism that can lead to cellular injury.
Necrosis - answer✔A type of cellular death that includes inflammatory changes.
Apoptosis - answer✔A type of cellular death without inflammatory changes.
Pyknosis - answer✔The shrinking of the nucleus in the process of necrosis.
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11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Central Concepts of Pathophysiology in
NSG5531 Exam Study Guide.
Nucleus - answer✔Contains nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complexes, RNA, DNA, histone
proteins; functions in cell division and control of genetic information.
Ribosomes - answer✔RNA protein complexes; free vs. attached ribosomes; synthesize proteins.
Endoplasmic reticulum - answer✔Network of tubular or saclike channels; smooth vs. rough ER;
site of protein synthesis and senses cellular stress.
Lysosomes - answer✔Saclike structures from Golgi; primary vs. secondary lysosomes; functions
in intracellular digestion, autodigestion, and autophagy.
Mitochondria - answer✔Surrounded by double membrane; cristae increase inner membrane
surface area; responsible for cellular respiration, energy production, and oxidative
phosphorylation.
Plasma membranes - answer✔Control composition of enclosed space; enclose cell; provide
selective transport system, cell-to-cell recognition, mobility, shape.
Membrane composition - answer✔Bilayer of lipids and proteins; fluid structure; lipids are
amphipathic; proteins are polypeptides with various functions.
Cellular receptors - answer✔Proteins on plasma membrane, cytoplasm, or nucleus; bind with
ligands; determine cell response to binding.
Extracellular matrix - answer✔Meshwork of fibrous proteins in gel-like substance; includes
collagen, elastin, fibronectin, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid; regulates cell growth, movement,
and differentiation.
Cellular Communication - answer✔Maintains homeostasis; regulates growth, division;
coordinates functions through contact-dependent, paracrine, autocrine, hormonal,
neurohormonal signaling.
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Metabolism - answer✔Chemical tasks maintaining cellular functions; includes anabolism
(energy using) and catabolism (energy releasing); ATP role in energy storage and transfer.
Food and production of cellular energy - answer✔Includes digestion, glycolysis, oxidation,
oxidative cellular metabolism, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Membrane transport - answer✔Passive (diffusion, filtration, osmosis) and active transport
mechanisms; involves solutes, electrolytes, non-electrolytes.
Osmotic pressure - answer✔Pressure opposing water movement due to concentration
gradient; oncotic pressure from colloids; osmolarity and osmolality measure solution
concentration.
Tonicity - answer✔Effective osmolality of a solution; isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic solutions
have different concentrations.
Active transport of Na+ and K+ - answer✔Antiport system moving Na+ out and K+ into cell using
ATP; electrogenic process with electrical potential difference.
Cellular Reproduction - answer✔Includes mitosis, cytokinesis, chromatin, chromosomes,
chromatids, and cell cycle phases (G1, S, G2, M).
Growth factors - answer✔Cytokines stimulating cellular growth and regeneration; platelet-
derived growth factor is an example.
Cellular Adaptation - answer✔Cell response to injury through atrophy, hypertrophy,
hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
Cellular Injury - answer✔Leads to tissue and organ damage; can be reversible or irreversible,
acute or chronic, involving necrosis, apoptosis, accumulation, or calcification.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion - answer✔One of the biochemical mechanisms of
cellular injury.
Mitochondrial damage - answer✔A factor contributing to cellular injury.
Calcium level alterations - answer✔A mechanism that can lead to cellular injury.
Necrosis - answer✔A type of cellular death that includes inflammatory changes.
Apoptosis - answer✔A type of cellular death without inflammatory changes.
Pyknosis - answer✔The shrinking of the nucleus in the process of necrosis.
2|Page
