NURS 5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UTA EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026/2027
What can Reactive Oxygen Species cause? - ANS Heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM, ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA.
Lipid perioxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA, less *protein synthesis*, chromatin
destruction, damage mitochondria
What is the body's defense against ROS? - ANS Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine,
glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
How are free radicals produced? - ANS 1. Normal cellular respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
action potential - ANS Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the neuron --> the neuron
depolarizes --> then repolarizes
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Threshold potential - ANS Point at which depolarization must reach in order to initiate an
action potential
Hypokalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPERpolarized (more negative, ex. -100). Less
excitable. Decreased neuromuscular excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia,
cardiac dysrhythmias
Hyperkalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPOpolarized (more positive, ex: closer to 0).
More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD = cardiac standstill,
paresthesia, paralysis
Hypocalcemia and action potentials - ANS Increased permeability to Na+. More excitable.
Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia and action potentials - ANS Decreased permeability to Na+. Less excitable.
Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
Atrophy - ANS Occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it
has now compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient supply, hormonal
supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and
may lead to cellular death.
Atrophy examples - ANS Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
Hypertrophy - ANS Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase in size of organ.
Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Hypertrophy examples - ANS physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal hypertrophy when a person
does heavy work or weight lifting / when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney
increases in size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased workload in hypertensive
patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
Hyperplasia - ANS Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from increased rate of mitosis. Can
ONLY happen in cells that are capable of mitosis (cell division).
Hyperplasia examples - ANS 1. Thickening of skin because of hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and the endometrial lining
undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for endometrial cancer
Dysplasia - ANS abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to
persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
Dysplasia examples - ANS Pre cancer pap smears often show dysplastic cells of the cervix that
must undergo treatment.
Metaplasia - ANS Changed cell that is REVERSIBLE (one cell is replaced by another cell).
Exposure to chronic stressors, injury or irritation, like smoking or hydrochloric acid from heart
burn
Metaplasia examples - ANS Most common is change from columnar cells to squamous cells
(chronic smokers).
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UTA EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026/2027
What can Reactive Oxygen Species cause? - ANS Heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM, ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA.
Lipid perioxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA, less *protein synthesis*, chromatin
destruction, damage mitochondria
What is the body's defense against ROS? - ANS Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine,
glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
How are free radicals produced? - ANS 1. Normal cellular respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
action potential - ANS Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the neuron --> the neuron
depolarizes --> then repolarizes
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Threshold potential - ANS Point at which depolarization must reach in order to initiate an
action potential
Hypokalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPERpolarized (more negative, ex. -100). Less
excitable. Decreased neuromuscular excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia,
cardiac dysrhythmias
Hyperkalemia and action potentials - ANS HYPOpolarized (more positive, ex: closer to 0).
More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD = cardiac standstill,
paresthesia, paralysis
Hypocalcemia and action potentials - ANS Increased permeability to Na+. More excitable.
Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia and action potentials - ANS Decreased permeability to Na+. Less excitable.
Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
Atrophy - ANS Occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it
has now compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient supply, hormonal
supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and
may lead to cellular death.
Atrophy examples - ANS Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
Hypertrophy - ANS Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase in size of organ.
Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Hypertrophy examples - ANS physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal hypertrophy when a person
does heavy work or weight lifting / when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney
increases in size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased workload in hypertensive
patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
Hyperplasia - ANS Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from increased rate of mitosis. Can
ONLY happen in cells that are capable of mitosis (cell division).
Hyperplasia examples - ANS 1. Thickening of skin because of hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and the endometrial lining
undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for endometrial cancer
Dysplasia - ANS abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to
persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
Dysplasia examples - ANS Pre cancer pap smears often show dysplastic cells of the cervix that
must undergo treatment.
Metaplasia - ANS Changed cell that is REVERSIBLE (one cell is replaced by another cell).
Exposure to chronic stressors, injury or irritation, like smoking or hydrochloric acid from heart
burn
Metaplasia examples - ANS Most common is change from columnar cells to squamous cells
(chronic smokers).
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
