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NURS 5315
Advanced Patho NURS 5315 exam 1| Questions With Verified
Answers 2026/2027
Prose1 Stuvia
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
NURS 5315
NURS 5315 exam 1
Advanced Patho NURS 5315 exam 1
Questions With Verified Answers
Complete Multiple Choic
, 1. What is an action potential?
A) The resting state of a cell membrane
B) The process by which excitable cells transmit information from one to another
C) The movement of water across a membrane
D) The production of proteins by a cell
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, action potential is defined as "The process by which excitable
cells transmit information from one to another." This involves rapid changes in membrane
potential that allow communication between cells such as neurons and muscle fibers.
2. How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance? (Hyperkalemia)
A) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more negative
B) The ECF has more K+ ions, membrane becomes more positive (hypopolarized), cells become
MORE excitable
C) The ECF has more K+ ions, membrane becomes hyperpolarized
D) There is no change in membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file states that in hyperkalemia, "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
equals threshold, cardiac standstill occurs.
3. How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance? (Hypokalemia)
, A) The ECF has more K+ ions, cells become more excitable
B) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more negative (hyperpolarized), cells become
less excitable
C) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more positive
D) There is no change in action potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, in hypokalemia "The ECF has less K+ ions. The membrane
potential becomes more negative or hyperpolarized. The cell becomes less excitable,
depolarization takes longer, and takes a stronger stimulus. Causes weakness, atony, cardiac
dysrhythmias."
4. How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance? (hypercalemia)
A) Increases cell permeability to sodium, causing hypopolarization
B) Decreases cell permeability to calcium, cell becomes hyperpolarized, less excitable
C) Increases cell excitability, brings threshold closer to membrane potential
D) Has no effect on membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file states that hypercalcemia (>10.5 mg/dL) "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 takes more stimulus to depolarize.
Causes: weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy, confusion, shortened QT wave, depressed T wave."
5. How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance? (hypocalemia)
, A) Decreases cell permeability to sodium, causing hyperpolarization
B) Increases cell permeability to Na+, resting membrane gets hypopolarized, cells become
excitable
C) Widens distance between membrane and threshold potential
D) Decreases cell excitability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, hypocalcemia (<9.0 mg/dL) "Increases the cell permeability
to Na+. Resting membrane potential gets hypopolarized. Cells become excitable and threshold
and membrane potential get closer. Causes: tetany, hyperreflexia, parathythmias, seizures,
dysrhythmias."
Section 2: Cellular Adaptation
6. Atrophy
A) Increase in cellular protein causing cell enlargement
B) Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing reduction in intracellular contents; the cell
shrinks
C) Increase in number of cells
D) Abnormal changes in cell size, shape or organization
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file defines atrophy as "Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing a
reduction in the intracellular contents. The cell shrinks." Examples include thymus gland
shrinking in childhood and disuse atrophy from lack of stimulation.
NURS 5315
Advanced Patho NURS 5315 exam 1| Questions With Verified
Answers 2026/2027
Prose1 Stuvia
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
NURS 5315
NURS 5315 exam 1
Advanced Patho NURS 5315 exam 1
Questions With Verified Answers
Complete Multiple Choic
, 1. What is an action potential?
A) The resting state of a cell membrane
B) The process by which excitable cells transmit information from one to another
C) The movement of water across a membrane
D) The production of proteins by a cell
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, action potential is defined as "The process by which excitable
cells transmit information from one to another." This involves rapid changes in membrane
potential that allow communication between cells such as neurons and muscle fibers.
2. How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance? (Hyperkalemia)
A) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more negative
B) The ECF has more K+ ions, membrane becomes more positive (hypopolarized), cells become
MORE excitable
C) The ECF has more K+ ions, membrane becomes hyperpolarized
D) There is no change in membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file states that in hyperkalemia, "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
equals threshold, cardiac standstill occurs.
3. How is the action potential altered by a potassium imbalance? (Hypokalemia)
, A) The ECF has more K+ ions, cells become more excitable
B) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more negative (hyperpolarized), cells become
less excitable
C) The ECF has less K+ ions, membrane becomes more positive
D) There is no change in action potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, in hypokalemia "The ECF has less K+ ions. The membrane
potential becomes more negative or hyperpolarized. The cell becomes less excitable,
depolarization takes longer, and takes a stronger stimulus. Causes weakness, atony, cardiac
dysrhythmias."
4. How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance? (hypercalemia)
A) Increases cell permeability to sodium, causing hypopolarization
B) Decreases cell permeability to calcium, cell becomes hyperpolarized, less excitable
C) Increases cell excitability, brings threshold closer to membrane potential
D) Has no effect on membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file states that hypercalcemia (>10.5 mg/dL) "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 takes more stimulus to depolarize.
Causes: weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy, confusion, shortened QT wave, depressed T wave."
5. How is the action potential altered by a calcium imbalance? (hypocalemia)
, A) Decreases cell permeability to sodium, causing hyperpolarization
B) Increases cell permeability to Na+, resting membrane gets hypopolarized, cells become
excitable
C) Widens distance between membrane and threshold potential
D) Decreases cell excitability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the file, hypocalcemia (<9.0 mg/dL) "Increases the cell permeability
to Na+. Resting membrane potential gets hypopolarized. Cells become excitable and threshold
and membrane potential get closer. Causes: tetany, hyperreflexia, parathythmias, seizures,
dysrhythmias."
Section 2: Cellular Adaptation
6. Atrophy
A) Increase in cellular protein causing cell enlargement
B) Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing reduction in intracellular contents; the cell
shrinks
C) Increase in number of cells
D) Abnormal changes in cell size, shape or organization
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The file defines atrophy as "Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing a
reduction in the intracellular contents. The cell shrinks." Examples include thymus gland
shrinking in childhood and disuse atrophy from lack of stimulation.
