NURS 5315: ADV PATHO EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026/2027
Atrophy - ANS E. Cells decrease in size
P. Still functional; imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation. Essentially there is an
increase in the catabolism of intracellular organelles, reducing structural components of cell
Physiologic: thymus gland in early childhood
Pathological: disuse (muscle atrophy d/ decrease workload, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation)
Hyperplasia - ANS E: cells increase in number, mitosis (cell division) must occur, size of cell
does not change
Phys: increased rate of division, increase in tissue mass after damage or partial resection; may
be compensatory, hormonal, or pathologic
Patho: abnormal proliferation of normal cells usually caused by increased hormonal stimulation
(endometrial). increase of production of local growth factors
Ex: removal of part of the liver lead to hyperplasia of hepatocytes. uterine or mammary gland
enlargement during pregnancy
Dysplasia - ANS E. Not true adaptation; Cells abnormal change in size, shape, organization
(classified as mild, moderate, severe)
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,P. caused by cell injury/irritation, characterized by disordered cell growth. aka atypical
hyperplasia or pre-cancer, a disorderly proliferation
Physiologic: N/A
Pathologic: squamous dysplasia of cervix from HPV shows up on pap smear, breast cancer
development; pap smears often show dysplastic cells of the cervix that must undergo
laser/surgical tx
Metaplasia - ANS E: reversible change, one type of cell changes to another type for survival
P: reversible; results from exposure of the cells to chronic stressors, injury, or irritation; Cancer
can arise from this area, stimulus induces a reprogramming of stem cells under the influence of
cytokines and growth factors
Ex: Patho: Columnar cells change to squamous cells in lungs of smoker or normal ciliated
epithelial cells of the bronchial linings are replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells.; Phys:
Barrett Esophagus- normal squamous cells change to columnar epithelial cells in response to
reflux, aka intestinal metaplasia
Hypoxia injury - ANS E. inadequate oxygenation of tissues
P. decrease in mitochondrial function, decreased production of ATP increases anaerobic
metabolism. eventual cell death.
C.M. hypoxia, cyanosis, cognitive impairment, lethargy
Free radical and ROS - ANS E. normal byproduct of ATP production, will overwhelm the
mitochondria- exhaust intracellular antioxidants
P. lipid peroxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA
C.M. development in Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Ethanol - ANS E. mood altering drug, long term effects on liver and nutritional status
P. metabolized by liver, generates free radicals
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,C.M. CNS depression, nutrient deficiencies-Mag, Vit B6, thiamine, PO4, inflammation and fatty
infiltration of liver, hepatomegaly, leads to liver failure irreversible
Oncosis - ANS Na and H2O enter cell and cause swelling. Organ increases in weight, becomes
distended and pale. Associated with high fever, hypocalcemia, certain infections
Fatty Infiltration - ANS intracellular accumulation of lipids in the liver
liver fails to metabolize lipids. usually from ETOH or high fat diet. can lead to cirrhosis
dystrophic calcification - ANS accumulation of Ca in dead or dying tissues
calcium salt clump and harden- interfere with cellular structure and function
r/t pulmonary TB, atherosclerosis, injured heart valves, chronic pancreatitis
metastatic calcification - ANS accumulation of Ca in normal tissue
result of hypercalcemia r/t hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, toxic levels of Vit D. Can also
r/t hyperphosphatemia in renal failure
urate accumulation - ANS sodium urate crystals are deposited in tissues- group of disorders
collectively called gout- acute arthritis, chronic gouty arthritis, tophus, nephritis
Coagulative Necrosis - ANS kidneys, heart, adrenals- secondary to hypoxia
Liquefactive Necrosis - ANS nerve cells- brain- accumulation of pus
Caseous Necrosis - ANS lung disease- usually TB- tissue looks like clumped cheese
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Fat Necrosis - ANS breast, pancreas, abdominal structures- creates soaps
Gangrenous Necrosis - ANS Dry- dark shriveled skin
Wet- internal organs- can lead to death
Gas- from clostridium- antitoxins and hyperbaric therapy
Gout - ANS E. disturbances in serum urate levels. uncommon for < 30 years old.
P. uric acid is deposited in the tissues of kidney, heart, earlobes, and joints.
C.M. inflammation, painful joints. result of diuretic use or diet high in cream sauces, red wine,
or red meat
Rhabdomyolysis - ANS E. cell hypoxia caused by severe muscle trauma, hyperthermia, crush
injuries, or severe dehydration
P. hypoxia to cell causes failure of the Na-K pump, causing accumulation of intracellular sodium,
oncosis, and eventual cell death. Cell death releases enzymes such as CK, uric acid, LDH, AST,
etc.
C.M. Causes: trauma, hyperthermia, crush injuries, severe dehydration; s/s: CK is 5x upper
normal limit, muscle pain, weakness, dark, reddish-brown urine, hypercalcemia, renal failure
Alpha Fetoprotein Origin - ANS Liver and germ cell tumors
Carcinoembryonic Antigen - ANS GI, pancreas, lung, breast tumors
Prostate Specific Antigen - ANS prostate tumors
Carcino- - ANS from epithelial tissue- renal cell carcinoma
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026/2027
Atrophy - ANS E. Cells decrease in size
P. Still functional; imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation. Essentially there is an
increase in the catabolism of intracellular organelles, reducing structural components of cell
Physiologic: thymus gland in early childhood
Pathological: disuse (muscle atrophy d/ decrease workload, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation)
Hyperplasia - ANS E: cells increase in number, mitosis (cell division) must occur, size of cell
does not change
Phys: increased rate of division, increase in tissue mass after damage or partial resection; may
be compensatory, hormonal, or pathologic
Patho: abnormal proliferation of normal cells usually caused by increased hormonal stimulation
(endometrial). increase of production of local growth factors
Ex: removal of part of the liver lead to hyperplasia of hepatocytes. uterine or mammary gland
enlargement during pregnancy
Dysplasia - ANS E. Not true adaptation; Cells abnormal change in size, shape, organization
(classified as mild, moderate, severe)
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,P. caused by cell injury/irritation, characterized by disordered cell growth. aka atypical
hyperplasia or pre-cancer, a disorderly proliferation
Physiologic: N/A
Pathologic: squamous dysplasia of cervix from HPV shows up on pap smear, breast cancer
development; pap smears often show dysplastic cells of the cervix that must undergo
laser/surgical tx
Metaplasia - ANS E: reversible change, one type of cell changes to another type for survival
P: reversible; results from exposure of the cells to chronic stressors, injury, or irritation; Cancer
can arise from this area, stimulus induces a reprogramming of stem cells under the influence of
cytokines and growth factors
Ex: Patho: Columnar cells change to squamous cells in lungs of smoker or normal ciliated
epithelial cells of the bronchial linings are replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells.; Phys:
Barrett Esophagus- normal squamous cells change to columnar epithelial cells in response to
reflux, aka intestinal metaplasia
Hypoxia injury - ANS E. inadequate oxygenation of tissues
P. decrease in mitochondrial function, decreased production of ATP increases anaerobic
metabolism. eventual cell death.
C.M. hypoxia, cyanosis, cognitive impairment, lethargy
Free radical and ROS - ANS E. normal byproduct of ATP production, will overwhelm the
mitochondria- exhaust intracellular antioxidants
P. lipid peroxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA
C.M. development in Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Ethanol - ANS E. mood altering drug, long term effects on liver and nutritional status
P. metabolized by liver, generates free radicals
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,C.M. CNS depression, nutrient deficiencies-Mag, Vit B6, thiamine, PO4, inflammation and fatty
infiltration of liver, hepatomegaly, leads to liver failure irreversible
Oncosis - ANS Na and H2O enter cell and cause swelling. Organ increases in weight, becomes
distended and pale. Associated with high fever, hypocalcemia, certain infections
Fatty Infiltration - ANS intracellular accumulation of lipids in the liver
liver fails to metabolize lipids. usually from ETOH or high fat diet. can lead to cirrhosis
dystrophic calcification - ANS accumulation of Ca in dead or dying tissues
calcium salt clump and harden- interfere with cellular structure and function
r/t pulmonary TB, atherosclerosis, injured heart valves, chronic pancreatitis
metastatic calcification - ANS accumulation of Ca in normal tissue
result of hypercalcemia r/t hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, toxic levels of Vit D. Can also
r/t hyperphosphatemia in renal failure
urate accumulation - ANS sodium urate crystals are deposited in tissues- group of disorders
collectively called gout- acute arthritis, chronic gouty arthritis, tophus, nephritis
Coagulative Necrosis - ANS kidneys, heart, adrenals- secondary to hypoxia
Liquefactive Necrosis - ANS nerve cells- brain- accumulation of pus
Caseous Necrosis - ANS lung disease- usually TB- tissue looks like clumped cheese
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Fat Necrosis - ANS breast, pancreas, abdominal structures- creates soaps
Gangrenous Necrosis - ANS Dry- dark shriveled skin
Wet- internal organs- can lead to death
Gas- from clostridium- antitoxins and hyperbaric therapy
Gout - ANS E. disturbances in serum urate levels. uncommon for < 30 years old.
P. uric acid is deposited in the tissues of kidney, heart, earlobes, and joints.
C.M. inflammation, painful joints. result of diuretic use or diet high in cream sauces, red wine,
or red meat
Rhabdomyolysis - ANS E. cell hypoxia caused by severe muscle trauma, hyperthermia, crush
injuries, or severe dehydration
P. hypoxia to cell causes failure of the Na-K pump, causing accumulation of intracellular sodium,
oncosis, and eventual cell death. Cell death releases enzymes such as CK, uric acid, LDH, AST,
etc.
C.M. Causes: trauma, hyperthermia, crush injuries, severe dehydration; s/s: CK is 5x upper
normal limit, muscle pain, weakness, dark, reddish-brown urine, hypercalcemia, renal failure
Alpha Fetoprotein Origin - ANS Liver and germ cell tumors
Carcinoembryonic Antigen - ANS GI, pancreas, lung, breast tumors
Prostate Specific Antigen - ANS prostate tumors
Carcino- - ANS from epithelial tissue- renal cell carcinoma
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
