NUR 631 ADVANCED
PHYSIOLOGY AND
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
GRAND CANYON
UNIVERSITY | MIDTERM &
FINAL EXAM PREP 350
EXAM QUESTIONS |
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES 2024 – 2026
EDITION
UNIT I: CELLULAR FUNCTION &
ADAPTATION
,1. A 45-year-old client is diagnosed with chronic
anemia. Which cellular adaptation is most likely
occurring in response to decreased oxygen
delivery?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
size in response to increased workload or
demand. Chronic anemia leads to decreased
oxygen delivery, causing cardiac myocytes to
hypertrophy to compensate for increased
workload (increased stroke volume and heart
rate). Hyperplasia (A) is increased cell number.
Atrophy (C) is decreased cell size. Metaplasia
(D) is replacement of one cell type with another.
,2. A nurse is studying cellular injury. Which
mechanism is the most common cause of
cellular injury leading to cell death?
A. Genetic mutations
B. Hypoxia
C. Bacterial infection
D. Immune-mediated injury
Answer: B. Hypoxia
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the
most common cause of cellular injury. It leads to
reduced ATP production, failure of
sodium-potassium pump, cellular swelling, and
ultimately cell death if not corrected. Genetic
mutations (A), infection (C), and immune injury
(D) are important but less common causes.
3. A client experiences a myocardial infarction.
Which type of cell death occurs in the heart
muscle due to ischemia?
, A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Autophagy
D. Pyroptosis
Answer: B. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is unprogrammed cell
death caused by external factors such as
ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Myocardial
infarction causes coagulative necrosis.
Apoptosis (A) is programmed cell death,
typically not caused by acute ischemia.
Autophagy (C) is a recycling process.
Pyroptosis (D) is inflammatory cell death
associated with infection.
4. A nurse is reviewing cellular adaptations.
Barrett esophagus is an example of which
cellular adaptation?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
PHYSIOLOGY AND
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
GRAND CANYON
UNIVERSITY | MIDTERM &
FINAL EXAM PREP 350
EXAM QUESTIONS |
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES 2024 – 2026
EDITION
UNIT I: CELLULAR FUNCTION &
ADAPTATION
,1. A 45-year-old client is diagnosed with chronic
anemia. Which cellular adaptation is most likely
occurring in response to decreased oxygen
delivery?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
size in response to increased workload or
demand. Chronic anemia leads to decreased
oxygen delivery, causing cardiac myocytes to
hypertrophy to compensate for increased
workload (increased stroke volume and heart
rate). Hyperplasia (A) is increased cell number.
Atrophy (C) is decreased cell size. Metaplasia
(D) is replacement of one cell type with another.
,2. A nurse is studying cellular injury. Which
mechanism is the most common cause of
cellular injury leading to cell death?
A. Genetic mutations
B. Hypoxia
C. Bacterial infection
D. Immune-mediated injury
Answer: B. Hypoxia
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the
most common cause of cellular injury. It leads to
reduced ATP production, failure of
sodium-potassium pump, cellular swelling, and
ultimately cell death if not corrected. Genetic
mutations (A), infection (C), and immune injury
(D) are important but less common causes.
3. A client experiences a myocardial infarction.
Which type of cell death occurs in the heart
muscle due to ischemia?
, A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Autophagy
D. Pyroptosis
Answer: B. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is unprogrammed cell
death caused by external factors such as
ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Myocardial
infarction causes coagulative necrosis.
Apoptosis (A) is programmed cell death,
typically not caused by acute ischemia.
Autophagy (C) is a recycling process.
Pyroptosis (D) is inflammatory cell death
associated with infection.
4. A nurse is reviewing cellular adaptations.
Barrett esophagus is an example of which
cellular adaptation?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
