Page | 1
ADVANCED PATHO NURS 5315 EXAM
1 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
A+ GRADED | WITH EXPERT
SOLUTIONS
action potential - correct answer -The process by which excitable
cells transmit information from one to another.
How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance?
(Hyperkalemia) - correct answer -The ECF has more K+ ions. The
membrane potential becomes more positive (hypopolarized).
Cells become MORE excitable.
T waves peak.
QRS complexes widen.
Causes dysrhythmias, weakness, paresthesia.
{If membrane potential becomes equal to threshold potential
cardiac standstill occurs}
How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance?
(Hypokalemia) - correct answer -The ECF has less K+ ions. The
membrane potential becomes more negative or hyper-polarized.
, Page | 2
The cell becomes less excitable, depolarization takes longer, and
takes a stronger stimulus.
Causes weakness, atony, cardiac dystrhythmias.
How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance?
(hypercalemia) - correct answer -Increase in ECF calcium to
>10.5 mg/dL. It decreases the cell permeability to calcium.
The cell becomes hyperpolarized (the distance between
membrane potential and threshold potential widens).
The cell is less excitable and take more stimulus to depolarize.
Causes: weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy, confusion, shortened
QT wave, depressed T wave.
How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance?
(hypocalemia) - correct answer -Decreased ECF calcium <9.0
mg/dL. <5.5 ionized.
Increases the cell permeability to Na+. Resting membrane
potential gets hypo-polarized.
Cells become excitable and threshold and membrane potential
get closer.
Causes: tetany, hyperreflexia, parathesias, seizures,
dysrhythmias.
, Page | 3
Atrophy - correct answer -Catabolism of intracellular organelles
causing a reduction in the intracellular contents.
The cell shrinks
-The thymus gland shrinks in childhood
-Disuse atrophy
hypertrophy - correct answer -Hormonal stimulation in response
to increased demand than causes an increase in cellular protien.
The cell gets larger - eventually causing the whole organ to get
larger.
-Skeletal muscle hypertrophy in the weight lifter.
-Cardiomegaly in response to hypertensive heart disease.
Hyperplasia - correct answer -Increase in the number of growth
factor cell receptors that activate cellular proliferation. Only
happens in cell capable of mitosis.
-Increased number of cells.
-Uterine and mammary glands in pregnancy.
-Increased production of endometrial cells due to
estrogen/progesterone imbalance.
, Page | 4
Dysplasia - correct answer -abnormal changes in cell size, shape
or organization in response to cell injury or irritation.
Not a true adaptive process.
-Cervical dysplasia.
Metaplasia - correct answer -Mature cell type is replaced by a
different mature cell type.
-Reversible, but can induce metestatic change.
-Result of chronic stressor to the cell.
-Chronic smokers who loose normal ciliated epithelial cells
(columnar) and the cells are replaced with squamous cells.
-Barrett's esophagus: Normal esophogeal epithelial cells are
replaced with columnar type cells that are more like the intestine
to withstand the acidity of reflux.
hypoxic injury - correct answer -Most common type of cellular
injury. Caused by lack of oxygen, loss of hemoglobin, decrease in
RBC production, cardiopulmonary disease, ischemia and
inflammation. Causes mitochondrial disfunction ↓ decreased ATP
production, ↑ anaerobic metabolism, metabolism ceases, cell
dies.
-Ischemia progresses to hypoxia. Causes intracellular enzymes to
show up in labs.
-Creatinine kinase - indicates muscle injury.
ADVANCED PATHO NURS 5315 EXAM
1 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
A+ GRADED | WITH EXPERT
SOLUTIONS
action potential - correct answer -The process by which excitable
cells transmit information from one to another.
How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance?
(Hyperkalemia) - correct answer -The ECF has more K+ ions. The
membrane potential becomes more positive (hypopolarized).
Cells become MORE excitable.
T waves peak.
QRS complexes widen.
Causes dysrhythmias, weakness, paresthesia.
{If membrane potential becomes equal to threshold potential
cardiac standstill occurs}
How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance?
(Hypokalemia) - correct answer -The ECF has less K+ ions. The
membrane potential becomes more negative or hyper-polarized.
, Page | 2
The cell becomes less excitable, depolarization takes longer, and
takes a stronger stimulus.
Causes weakness, atony, cardiac dystrhythmias.
How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance?
(hypercalemia) - correct answer -Increase in ECF calcium to
>10.5 mg/dL. It decreases the cell permeability to calcium.
The cell becomes hyperpolarized (the distance between
membrane potential and threshold potential widens).
The cell is less excitable and take more stimulus to depolarize.
Causes: weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy, confusion, shortened
QT wave, depressed T wave.
How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance?
(hypocalemia) - correct answer -Decreased ECF calcium <9.0
mg/dL. <5.5 ionized.
Increases the cell permeability to Na+. Resting membrane
potential gets hypo-polarized.
Cells become excitable and threshold and membrane potential
get closer.
Causes: tetany, hyperreflexia, parathesias, seizures,
dysrhythmias.
, Page | 3
Atrophy - correct answer -Catabolism of intracellular organelles
causing a reduction in the intracellular contents.
The cell shrinks
-The thymus gland shrinks in childhood
-Disuse atrophy
hypertrophy - correct answer -Hormonal stimulation in response
to increased demand than causes an increase in cellular protien.
The cell gets larger - eventually causing the whole organ to get
larger.
-Skeletal muscle hypertrophy in the weight lifter.
-Cardiomegaly in response to hypertensive heart disease.
Hyperplasia - correct answer -Increase in the number of growth
factor cell receptors that activate cellular proliferation. Only
happens in cell capable of mitosis.
-Increased number of cells.
-Uterine and mammary glands in pregnancy.
-Increased production of endometrial cells due to
estrogen/progesterone imbalance.
, Page | 4
Dysplasia - correct answer -abnormal changes in cell size, shape
or organization in response to cell injury or irritation.
Not a true adaptive process.
-Cervical dysplasia.
Metaplasia - correct answer -Mature cell type is replaced by a
different mature cell type.
-Reversible, but can induce metestatic change.
-Result of chronic stressor to the cell.
-Chronic smokers who loose normal ciliated epithelial cells
(columnar) and the cells are replaced with squamous cells.
-Barrett's esophagus: Normal esophogeal epithelial cells are
replaced with columnar type cells that are more like the intestine
to withstand the acidity of reflux.
hypoxic injury - correct answer -Most common type of cellular
injury. Caused by lack of oxygen, loss of hemoglobin, decrease in
RBC production, cardiopulmonary disease, ischemia and
inflammation. Causes mitochondrial disfunction ↓ decreased ATP
production, ↑ anaerobic metabolism, metabolism ceases, cell
dies.
-Ischemia progresses to hypoxia. Causes intracellular enzymes to
show up in labs.
-Creatinine kinase - indicates muscle injury.
