UTA NURS 5315 TEST ACTUAL TEST 2026 | ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | JUST RELEASED
Question 1
A decrease in cellular size, often seen in the thymus gland during early childhood or in skeletal
muscle due to disuse, is known as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
E) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. It can be physiologic, such as the involution of
the thymus gland, or pathologic, such as muscle wasting due to disuse, lack of endocrine
stimulation, or decreased blood supply. The cells remain functional but at a diminished
capacity.
Question 2
A 55-year-old male with long-standing untreated hypertension is found to have an enlarged heart.
This increase in the size of the myocardial cells is an example of:
A) Physiologic hyperplasia
B) Pathologic hypertrophy
C) Physiologic hypertrophy
D) Pathologic dysplasia
E) Compensatory metaplasia
Correct Answer: B) Pathologic hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
or increased workload. In the heart, hypertension causes pathologic hypertrophy because
the cardiac myocytes must enlarge to pump against increased systemic resistance.
Question 3
Following a partial hepatectomy, the remaining liver cells undergo rapid division to restore the
organ to its original weight. This is an example of:
A) Pathologic hyperplasia
B) Compensatory hyperplasia
C) Hormonal hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
E) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B) Compensatory hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate
of cellular division. Compensatory hyperplasia is a physiologic mechanism that allows
certain organs, such as the liver, to regenerate after loss of substance.
, 2
Question 4
A pap smear reveals cells of the cervix that vary in size, shape, and organization. The pathologist
describes this as "atypical hyperplasia." Which term best fits this description?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Hypertrophy
E) Oncosis
Correct Answer: B) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. While it is often called "atypical hyperplasia," it is not a true adaptive process
but rather a disorderly proliferation that can be a precursor to cancer (e.g., from HPV
infection).
Question 5
In a chronic smoker, the normal ciliated columnar epithelial cells of the bronchial lining are
replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This reversible process is:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
E) Neoplasia
Correct Answer: B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, less
differentiated mature cell type. It is caused by the "reprogramming" of stem cells in
response to chronic irritation, such as cigarette smoke, where squamous cells can better
survive the harsh environment but lack the protective cilia of the original cells.
Question 6
Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury and leads to a decrease in
mitochondrial ATP production?
A) Free radical damage
B) Hypoxia
C) Chemical injury
D) Genetic defects
E) Nutritional imbalances
Correct Answer: B) Hypoxia
Rationale: Hypoxia, or inadequate oxygenation of tissues, is the most common cause of cell
injury. It leads to decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which reduces ATP
, 3
production. This causes the failure of the sodium-potassium pump, resulting in cellular
swelling and eventual death.
Question 7
The production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) leads to cellular damage through which of
the following mechanisms?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
C) Stabilization of cellular proteins
D) Enhancement of antioxidant defenses
E) Decrease in mitochondrial exhaustion
Correct Answer: B) Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
Rationale: Free radicals and ROS are normal byproducts of ATP production but can
overwhelm the mitochondria. They cause lipid peroxidation (destruction of
polyunsaturated lipids), damage to ion pumps, fragmenting of DNA, and damage to
proteins.
Question 8
Long-term ethanol consumption leads to "fatty liver." What is the underlying pathophysiology of
this condition?
A) Increased metabolism of lipids by the liver
B) Metabolism of ethanol into free radicals and inflammation
C) Decreased production of intracellular ROS
D) Rapid regeneration of hepatocytes
E) Enhancement of Vitamin B6 and thiamine levels
Correct Answer: B) Metabolism of ethanol into free radicals and inflammation
Rationale: Ethanol is metabolized by the liver, generating free radicals that lead to lipid
peroxidation. This results in inflammation, fatty infiltration (intracellular accumulation of
lipids), and hepatomegaly, eventually progressing to irreversible cirrhosis.
Question 9
Oncosis is a form of cellular injury characterized by:
A) Cellular shrinkage and dehydration
B) Infiltration of calcium into the cytoplasm
C) Sodium and water entering the cell, causing swelling
D) Rapid programmed cell death (apoptosis)
E) Replacement of cell types
Correct Answer: C) Sodium and water entering the cell, causing swelling
Rationale: Oncosis is a type of cell death that occurs with severe swelling. When ATP is
depleted (as in hypoxia), the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
pulling water in via osmosis, causing the organ to become distended and pale.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | JUST RELEASED
Question 1
A decrease in cellular size, often seen in the thymus gland during early childhood or in skeletal
muscle due to disuse, is known as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
E) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. It can be physiologic, such as the involution of
the thymus gland, or pathologic, such as muscle wasting due to disuse, lack of endocrine
stimulation, or decreased blood supply. The cells remain functional but at a diminished
capacity.
Question 2
A 55-year-old male with long-standing untreated hypertension is found to have an enlarged heart.
This increase in the size of the myocardial cells is an example of:
A) Physiologic hyperplasia
B) Pathologic hypertrophy
C) Physiologic hypertrophy
D) Pathologic dysplasia
E) Compensatory metaplasia
Correct Answer: B) Pathologic hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
or increased workload. In the heart, hypertension causes pathologic hypertrophy because
the cardiac myocytes must enlarge to pump against increased systemic resistance.
Question 3
Following a partial hepatectomy, the remaining liver cells undergo rapid division to restore the
organ to its original weight. This is an example of:
A) Pathologic hyperplasia
B) Compensatory hyperplasia
C) Hormonal hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
E) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B) Compensatory hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate
of cellular division. Compensatory hyperplasia is a physiologic mechanism that allows
certain organs, such as the liver, to regenerate after loss of substance.
, 2
Question 4
A pap smear reveals cells of the cervix that vary in size, shape, and organization. The pathologist
describes this as "atypical hyperplasia." Which term best fits this description?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Hypertrophy
E) Oncosis
Correct Answer: B) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. While it is often called "atypical hyperplasia," it is not a true adaptive process
but rather a disorderly proliferation that can be a precursor to cancer (e.g., from HPV
infection).
Question 5
In a chronic smoker, the normal ciliated columnar epithelial cells of the bronchial lining are
replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This reversible process is:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
E) Neoplasia
Correct Answer: B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, less
differentiated mature cell type. It is caused by the "reprogramming" of stem cells in
response to chronic irritation, such as cigarette smoke, where squamous cells can better
survive the harsh environment but lack the protective cilia of the original cells.
Question 6
Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury and leads to a decrease in
mitochondrial ATP production?
A) Free radical damage
B) Hypoxia
C) Chemical injury
D) Genetic defects
E) Nutritional imbalances
Correct Answer: B) Hypoxia
Rationale: Hypoxia, or inadequate oxygenation of tissues, is the most common cause of cell
injury. It leads to decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which reduces ATP
, 3
production. This causes the failure of the sodium-potassium pump, resulting in cellular
swelling and eventual death.
Question 7
The production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) leads to cellular damage through which of
the following mechanisms?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
C) Stabilization of cellular proteins
D) Enhancement of antioxidant defenses
E) Decrease in mitochondrial exhaustion
Correct Answer: B) Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
Rationale: Free radicals and ROS are normal byproducts of ATP production but can
overwhelm the mitochondria. They cause lipid peroxidation (destruction of
polyunsaturated lipids), damage to ion pumps, fragmenting of DNA, and damage to
proteins.
Question 8
Long-term ethanol consumption leads to "fatty liver." What is the underlying pathophysiology of
this condition?
A) Increased metabolism of lipids by the liver
B) Metabolism of ethanol into free radicals and inflammation
C) Decreased production of intracellular ROS
D) Rapid regeneration of hepatocytes
E) Enhancement of Vitamin B6 and thiamine levels
Correct Answer: B) Metabolism of ethanol into free radicals and inflammation
Rationale: Ethanol is metabolized by the liver, generating free radicals that lead to lipid
peroxidation. This results in inflammation, fatty infiltration (intracellular accumulation of
lipids), and hepatomegaly, eventually progressing to irreversible cirrhosis.
Question 9
Oncosis is a form of cellular injury characterized by:
A) Cellular shrinkage and dehydration
B) Infiltration of calcium into the cytoplasm
C) Sodium and water entering the cell, causing swelling
D) Rapid programmed cell death (apoptosis)
E) Replacement of cell types
Correct Answer: C) Sodium and water entering the cell, causing swelling
Rationale: Oncosis is a type of cell death that occurs with severe swelling. When ATP is
depleted (as in hypoxia), the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
pulling water in via osmosis, causing the organ to become distended and pale.
