NUR 3205 Exam 1: Applied Pathophysiology
Verified & Updated Questions and Answers -
Rasmussen University
1. Which type of cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size leading to
reduced tissue mass?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Explanation: Atrophy is the decrease in cell size, often due to disuse, aging, or reduced
blood supply, resulting in reduced tissue or organ mass.
2. A patient with chronic smoking has cells in the respiratory tract replaced by a
different adult cell type. This is known as:
A. Anaplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, frequently occurring in response to chronic irritation.
,3. Which process describes programmed cell death that does not trigger an
inflammatory response?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Infarction
Answer: B
Explanation: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death used to eliminate unwanted or
damaged cells without causing inflammation.
4. Which of the following is a cardinal sign of acute inflammation?
A. Pallor
B. Hypothermia
C. Edema
D. Paresthesia
Answer: C
Explanation: The cardinal signs of inflammation include redness (rubor), swelling
(tumor/edema), heat (calor), pain (dolor), and loss of function.
5. During inflammation, which chemical mediator is primarily responsible for
increasing capillary permeability and vasodilation initially?
A. Cytokines
B. Leukotrienes
C. Prostaglandins
D. Histamine
Answer: D
Explanation: Histamine, released by mast cells, is one of the first mediators to cause
vasodilation and increased capillary permeability during the inflammatory response.
, 6. Which white blood cell is the first to arrive at the site of an acute injury?
A. Neutrophils
B. Monocytes
C. Lymphocytes
D. Basophils
Answer: A
Explanation: Neutrophils are the primary early responders in acute inflammation, arriving
within 6 to 12 hours.
7. A thick, yellowish-green discharge from a wound is best described as:
A. Serous exudate
B. Purulent exudate
C. Fibrinous exudate
D. Serosanguinous exudate
Answer: B
Explanation: Purulent exudate (pus) is thick and yellow-green, indicating the presence of
dead leukocytes, cell debris, and often bacteria.
8. What is the primary function of the Major Histocompatibility Complex
(MHC)?
A. To produce antibodies
B. To neutralize bacterial toxins
C. To stimulate the clotting cascade
D. To recognize self from non-self cells
Answer: D
Explanation: MHC molecules are surface proteins that allow the immune system to
distinguish the body’s own cells from foreign invaders.
Verified & Updated Questions and Answers -
Rasmussen University
1. Which type of cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size leading to
reduced tissue mass?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Explanation: Atrophy is the decrease in cell size, often due to disuse, aging, or reduced
blood supply, resulting in reduced tissue or organ mass.
2. A patient with chronic smoking has cells in the respiratory tract replaced by a
different adult cell type. This is known as:
A. Anaplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, frequently occurring in response to chronic irritation.
,3. Which process describes programmed cell death that does not trigger an
inflammatory response?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Infarction
Answer: B
Explanation: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death used to eliminate unwanted or
damaged cells without causing inflammation.
4. Which of the following is a cardinal sign of acute inflammation?
A. Pallor
B. Hypothermia
C. Edema
D. Paresthesia
Answer: C
Explanation: The cardinal signs of inflammation include redness (rubor), swelling
(tumor/edema), heat (calor), pain (dolor), and loss of function.
5. During inflammation, which chemical mediator is primarily responsible for
increasing capillary permeability and vasodilation initially?
A. Cytokines
B. Leukotrienes
C. Prostaglandins
D. Histamine
Answer: D
Explanation: Histamine, released by mast cells, is one of the first mediators to cause
vasodilation and increased capillary permeability during the inflammatory response.
, 6. Which white blood cell is the first to arrive at the site of an acute injury?
A. Neutrophils
B. Monocytes
C. Lymphocytes
D. Basophils
Answer: A
Explanation: Neutrophils are the primary early responders in acute inflammation, arriving
within 6 to 12 hours.
7. A thick, yellowish-green discharge from a wound is best described as:
A. Serous exudate
B. Purulent exudate
C. Fibrinous exudate
D. Serosanguinous exudate
Answer: B
Explanation: Purulent exudate (pus) is thick and yellow-green, indicating the presence of
dead leukocytes, cell debris, and often bacteria.
8. What is the primary function of the Major Histocompatibility Complex
(MHC)?
A. To produce antibodies
B. To neutralize bacterial toxins
C. To stimulate the clotting cascade
D. To recognize self from non-self cells
Answer: D
Explanation: MHC molecules are surface proteins that allow the immune system to
distinguish the body’s own cells from foreign invaders.
