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NR 507 Advanced Pathophysiology | Chamberlain | Final Exam 2026
Part I: Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Neoplasia
Q1. Which term describes the body's ability to maintain a stable internal
environment despite external changes?
A) Ischemia
B) Homeostasis
C) Necrosis
D) Atrophy
Answer: B) Homeostasis
,Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the dynamic processes that maintain a stable
internal environment. Disease often represents a failure of homeostatic
mechanisms. Ischemia disrupts homeostasis, while necrosis and atrophy are
consequences of failed adaptation .
Q2. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A) Genetic mutations
B) Hypoxia
C) Normal aging
D) Oxidative stress
Answer: B) Hypoxia
Rationale: Hypoxia (inadequate oxygen delivery) is the most frequent mechanism
of cellular injury. It leads to ATP depletion, failure of the Na+/K+ pump, cellular
swelling, and ultimately cell death if uncorrected. This pathway is central to
myocardial infarction, stroke, and shock .
,Q3. Decreased blood flow to a tissue, resulting in reduced oxygen and nutrient
delivery, is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Ischemia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B) Ischemia
Rationale: Ischemia is defined as reduced arterial blood supply to a tissue. While it
often leads to hypoxia, it is a specific vascular cause involving not just oxygen lack
but also nutrient deprivation and waste accumulation .
Q4. An increase in cell size, often resulting from increased workload or hormonal
stimulation, is called:
A) Hyperplasia
, B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Aplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy specifically refers to an increase in the size of individual
cells, leading to organ enlargement. It is commonly seen in skeletal muscle
(weightlifting) and cardiac muscle (hypertension-induced left ventricular
hypertrophy) .
Q5. An increase in the number of cells, which can be physiologic or pathologic, is
termed:
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia