NURS 611 Advanced Pathophysiology: Week 2 Study Guide - Cellular
Biology, Genetics, and Proliferation 2026 |Maryville
1. A patient with chronic high blood pressure develops an enlarged left
ventricle. This adaptation is best described as:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Compensatory hyperplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in the
heart due to chronic hemodynamic overload, such as hypertension, whereas physiologic
hypertrophy occurs in skeletal muscle with exercise.
2. A biopsy of the bronchial lining in a long-term smoker reveals that stratified
squamous epithelium has replaced the normal ciliated columnar epithelium.
This is an example of:
A. Anaplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often less differentiated, cell type to better withstand an adverse environment.
,3. Which of the following cellular changes is considered ‘atypical hyperplasia’
and is a strong predictor of cancer development?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. It is often called ‘atypical hyperplasia’ and is frequently a precursor to
malignancy.
4. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury during hypoxia?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Alkalosis of the cytosol
C. Depletion of ATP
D. Efflux of intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation,
resulting in decreased ATP production, which causes the failure of many cellular processes
including the Na+/K+ pump.
5. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump during ischemia leads to which of the
following?
A. Intracellular accumulation of potassium
B. Cellular dehydration
C. Intracellular accumulation of sodium and water
D. Increased extracellular magnesium
Answer: C
, Rationale: Without ATP, the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
creating an osmotic gradient that pulls water into the cell, leading to acute cellular swelling
(oncosis).
6. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic injury to
the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because the cells are rich in digestive
enzymes (hydrolases) and there is little connective tissue.
7. Caseous necrosis is a characteristic finding in tissues infected with:
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Clostridium perfringens
C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
D. Hepatitis B virus
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis, which looks like clumped cheese, is typically found in the
lungs of patients with tuberculosis, combining elements of coagulative and liquefactive
necrosis.
Biology, Genetics, and Proliferation 2026 |Maryville
1. A patient with chronic high blood pressure develops an enlarged left
ventricle. This adaptation is best described as:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Compensatory hyperplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in the
heart due to chronic hemodynamic overload, such as hypertension, whereas physiologic
hypertrophy occurs in skeletal muscle with exercise.
2. A biopsy of the bronchial lining in a long-term smoker reveals that stratified
squamous epithelium has replaced the normal ciliated columnar epithelium.
This is an example of:
A. Anaplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often less differentiated, cell type to better withstand an adverse environment.
,3. Which of the following cellular changes is considered ‘atypical hyperplasia’
and is a strong predictor of cancer development?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. It is often called ‘atypical hyperplasia’ and is frequently a precursor to
malignancy.
4. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury during hypoxia?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Alkalosis of the cytosol
C. Depletion of ATP
D. Efflux of intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation,
resulting in decreased ATP production, which causes the failure of many cellular processes
including the Na+/K+ pump.
5. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump during ischemia leads to which of the
following?
A. Intracellular accumulation of potassium
B. Cellular dehydration
C. Intracellular accumulation of sodium and water
D. Increased extracellular magnesium
Answer: C
, Rationale: Without ATP, the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
creating an osmotic gradient that pulls water into the cell, leading to acute cellular swelling
(oncosis).
6. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemic injury to
the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because the cells are rich in digestive
enzymes (hydrolases) and there is little connective tissue.
7. Caseous necrosis is a characteristic finding in tissues infected with:
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Clostridium perfringens
C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
D. Hepatitis B virus
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis, which looks like clumped cheese, is typically found in the
lungs of patients with tuberculosis, combining elements of coagulative and liquefactive
necrosis.
