SCI 225 Final Exam: Pathophysiology Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers -
Nightingale College (Version 2)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size, often
resulting from disuse or decreased blood supply?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size due to loss of cell substance, often caused
by decreased workload or oxygen supply.
2. Which process describes the movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to high solute
concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Osmosis is specifically the movement of water to balance solute
concentrations across a membrane.
,3. A patient presents with muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias. Lab
results show a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. This condition is known as:
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Hypokalemia is defined as a serum potassium level below the normal range
of 3.5-5.0 mEq/L.
4. What is the primary role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
(RAAS) in the body?
A. To lower blood glucose levels
B. To promote bone mineralization
C. To increase blood pressure and fluid volume
D. To induce inflammatory responses
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: RAAS is activated in response to low blood pressure or low sodium, leading
to vasoconstriction and sodium/water retention.
5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies and
involves the release of histamine from mast cells?
A. Type I Hypersensitivity
B. Type II Hypersensitivity
C. Type III Hypersensitivity
D. Type IV Hypersensitivity
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reactions, like allergies and anaphylaxis,
are IgE-mediated.
, 6. If both parents carry a recessive gene for a genetic disorder but do not have
the disease, what is the probability their child will express the disorder?
A. 25%
B. 100%
C. 50%
D. 0%
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In autosomal recessive inheritance, two carrier parents have a 25% chance
of having an affected child (aa).
7. Which form of cell death is considered a programmed process that does not
typically trigger an inflammatory response?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Apoptosis is ‘programmed cell suicide’ that eliminates damaged cells without
spilling contents into the extracellular space.
8. The spread of cancer cells from a primary site to a distant organ is called:
A. Angiogenesis
B. Metastasis
C. Neoplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and
travel through the blood or lymph to form new tumors.
Latest Questions and Correct Answers -
Nightingale College (Version 2)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size, often
resulting from disuse or decreased blood supply?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size due to loss of cell substance, often caused
by decreased workload or oxygen supply.
2. Which process describes the movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to high solute
concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Osmosis is specifically the movement of water to balance solute
concentrations across a membrane.
,3. A patient presents with muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias. Lab
results show a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. This condition is known as:
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Hypokalemia is defined as a serum potassium level below the normal range
of 3.5-5.0 mEq/L.
4. What is the primary role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
(RAAS) in the body?
A. To lower blood glucose levels
B. To promote bone mineralization
C. To increase blood pressure and fluid volume
D. To induce inflammatory responses
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: RAAS is activated in response to low blood pressure or low sodium, leading
to vasoconstriction and sodium/water retention.
5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies and
involves the release of histamine from mast cells?
A. Type I Hypersensitivity
B. Type II Hypersensitivity
C. Type III Hypersensitivity
D. Type IV Hypersensitivity
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reactions, like allergies and anaphylaxis,
are IgE-mediated.
, 6. If both parents carry a recessive gene for a genetic disorder but do not have
the disease, what is the probability their child will express the disorder?
A. 25%
B. 100%
C. 50%
D. 0%
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In autosomal recessive inheritance, two carrier parents have a 25% chance
of having an affected child (aa).
7. Which form of cell death is considered a programmed process that does not
typically trigger an inflammatory response?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Apoptosis is ‘programmed cell suicide’ that eliminates damaged cells without
spilling contents into the extracellular space.
8. The spread of cancer cells from a primary site to a distant organ is called:
A. Angiogenesis
B. Metastasis
C. Neoplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and
travel through the blood or lymph to form new tumors.
