NSG 120 MIDTERM EXAM (HERZING) NEWEST 2026
ACTUAL EXAM| NSG120 NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MID -TERM EXAM REVIEW WITH
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST
RECENT!!)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size and organ size due to increased workload?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to
enlargement of the organ. It occurs in response to increased
demand (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension).
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
2. A patient with chronic bronchitis has a change in the lining of
the airways from ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified
squamous epithelium. This change is called:
1
,A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often due to chronic
irritation (e.g., smoking, GERD). Dysplasia is disordered growth;
anaplasia is undifferentiated, malignant cells.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly seen in the heart
after a myocardial infarction?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: A) Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is characteristic of ischemic injury
in solid organs (heart, kidney) except the brain. Tissue
architecture is preserved for several days. Liquefactive necrosis
occurs in the brain; caseous in TB.
2
,4. A patient with tuberculosis has a lung lesion with a cheese-like
appearance. This type of necrosis is called:
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of coagulative necrosis
with a soft, friable, cheese-like (caseous) appearance, classically
seen in tuberculosis and fungal infections. Histologically, it shows
granulomas with central necrosis.
5. The process of programmed cell death, which is a normal and
controlled process, is known as:
A) Necrosis
B) Autolysis
C) Apoptosis
D) Phagocytosis
Answer: C) Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is energy-dependent, genetically
programmed cell death that eliminates damaged or unwanted
3
, cells without eliciting inflammation. Necrosis is unprogrammed,
pathologic cell death causing inflammation.
6. Which of the following is a reversible cellular change?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Fatty change (steatosis)
D) Gangrene
Answer: C) Fatty change (steatosis)
Rationale: Fatty change is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles in
cells, often due to toxins, alcohol, or hypoxia. It is reversible if
the injurious stimulus is removed. Necrosis and gangrene are
irreversible.
7. A patient’s leg has become black, dry, and shriveled. This type
of gangrene is known as:
A) Wet gangrene
B) Dry gangrene
C) Gas gangrene
D) Necrotizing fasciitis
Answer: B) Dry gangrene
Rationale: Dry gangrene occurs from slow, progressive ischemia,
usually in extremities. It is dry, black, mummified tissue with a
4
ACTUAL EXAM| NSG120 NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MID -TERM EXAM REVIEW WITH
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST
RECENT!!)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size and organ size due to increased workload?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to
enlargement of the organ. It occurs in response to increased
demand (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension).
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
2. A patient with chronic bronchitis has a change in the lining of
the airways from ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified
squamous epithelium. This change is called:
1
,A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often due to chronic
irritation (e.g., smoking, GERD). Dysplasia is disordered growth;
anaplasia is undifferentiated, malignant cells.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly seen in the heart
after a myocardial infarction?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: A) Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is characteristic of ischemic injury
in solid organs (heart, kidney) except the brain. Tissue
architecture is preserved for several days. Liquefactive necrosis
occurs in the brain; caseous in TB.
2
,4. A patient with tuberculosis has a lung lesion with a cheese-like
appearance. This type of necrosis is called:
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of coagulative necrosis
with a soft, friable, cheese-like (caseous) appearance, classically
seen in tuberculosis and fungal infections. Histologically, it shows
granulomas with central necrosis.
5. The process of programmed cell death, which is a normal and
controlled process, is known as:
A) Necrosis
B) Autolysis
C) Apoptosis
D) Phagocytosis
Answer: C) Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is energy-dependent, genetically
programmed cell death that eliminates damaged or unwanted
3
, cells without eliciting inflammation. Necrosis is unprogrammed,
pathologic cell death causing inflammation.
6. Which of the following is a reversible cellular change?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Fatty change (steatosis)
D) Gangrene
Answer: C) Fatty change (steatosis)
Rationale: Fatty change is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles in
cells, often due to toxins, alcohol, or hypoxia. It is reversible if
the injurious stimulus is removed. Necrosis and gangrene are
irreversible.
7. A patient’s leg has become black, dry, and shriveled. This type
of gangrene is known as:
A) Wet gangrene
B) Dry gangrene
C) Gas gangrene
D) Necrotizing fasciitis
Answer: B) Dry gangrene
Rationale: Dry gangrene occurs from slow, progressive ischemia,
usually in extremities. It is dry, black, mummified tissue with a
4
