NURS 450 QUIZ 1 EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉Cellular communication. Answer: Process where cells use ligands
to bind receptors and trigger intracellular responses
◉Ligands. Answer: Signaling molecules such as hormones,
neurotransmitters, and medications
◉Intracellular signaling cascade. Answer: Series of biochemical
reactions following receptor binding that lead to a cellular response
◉Cellular responses to signaling. Answer: Survival, growth, division,
differentiation, or apoptosis
◉Cellular metabolism. Answer: All chemical reactions required to
maintain cell structure and function
◉ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Answer: Primary energy source for
cellular metabolism
,◉levels of organization in the body. Answer: Cell → Tissue → Organ
→ Organ system → Organism
◉Homeostasis. Answer: Balanced internal state maintained through
physiological regulation
◉Compensation. Answer: Short-term physiological adjustments that
may worsen disease over time
◉Cellular adaptation. Answer: Structural or functional changes
allowing cells to meet increased demands
◉Atrophy. Answer: Decrease in cell size due to decreased workload
or nutrient supply
◉Hypertrophy. Answer: Increase in cell size due to increased
workload (example: cardiac hypertrophy)
◉Hyperplasia. Answer: Increase in the number of cells due to
increased demand or hormonal stimulation
◉Metaplasia. Answer: Replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another better suited to stress
, ◉Dysplasia. Answer: Abnormal cell size, shape, and organization;
considered precancerous
◉Cellular injury. Answer: Occurs when adaptive mechanisms fail,
leading to cell damage
◉Signs of cellular injury. Answer: Decreased ATP, increased calcium,
ROS accumulation, mitochondrial damage
◉Hypoxia. Answer: Insufficient oxygen supply to cells; most
common cause of cellular injury
◉Effects of hypoxia. Answer: Anaerobic metabolism, lactic acid
buildup, reduced ATP, electrolyte shifts
◉Anoxia. Answer: Complete absence of oxygen to cells
◉Apoptosis. Answer: Programmed cell death without inflammation;
cell shrinks and fragments
◉Necrosis. Answer: Uncontrolled cell death with swelling,
membrane rupture, and inflammation
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉Cellular communication. Answer: Process where cells use ligands
to bind receptors and trigger intracellular responses
◉Ligands. Answer: Signaling molecules such as hormones,
neurotransmitters, and medications
◉Intracellular signaling cascade. Answer: Series of biochemical
reactions following receptor binding that lead to a cellular response
◉Cellular responses to signaling. Answer: Survival, growth, division,
differentiation, or apoptosis
◉Cellular metabolism. Answer: All chemical reactions required to
maintain cell structure and function
◉ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Answer: Primary energy source for
cellular metabolism
,◉levels of organization in the body. Answer: Cell → Tissue → Organ
→ Organ system → Organism
◉Homeostasis. Answer: Balanced internal state maintained through
physiological regulation
◉Compensation. Answer: Short-term physiological adjustments that
may worsen disease over time
◉Cellular adaptation. Answer: Structural or functional changes
allowing cells to meet increased demands
◉Atrophy. Answer: Decrease in cell size due to decreased workload
or nutrient supply
◉Hypertrophy. Answer: Increase in cell size due to increased
workload (example: cardiac hypertrophy)
◉Hyperplasia. Answer: Increase in the number of cells due to
increased demand or hormonal stimulation
◉Metaplasia. Answer: Replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another better suited to stress
, ◉Dysplasia. Answer: Abnormal cell size, shape, and organization;
considered precancerous
◉Cellular injury. Answer: Occurs when adaptive mechanisms fail,
leading to cell damage
◉Signs of cellular injury. Answer: Decreased ATP, increased calcium,
ROS accumulation, mitochondrial damage
◉Hypoxia. Answer: Insufficient oxygen supply to cells; most
common cause of cellular injury
◉Effects of hypoxia. Answer: Anaerobic metabolism, lactic acid
buildup, reduced ATP, electrolyte shifts
◉Anoxia. Answer: Complete absence of oxygen to cells
◉Apoptosis. Answer: Programmed cell death without inflammation;
cell shrinks and fragments
◉Necrosis. Answer: Uncontrolled cell death with swelling,
membrane rupture, and inflammation
