NURS-6501 Advanced Pathophysiology | 316 Practice Q&A with Rationales | Biologic Basis of Disease

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NURS-6501: ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
## 316 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
## BIOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE IN ADULTS AND
CHILDREN | 2025–2026 ACADEMIC YEAR



## Table of Contents


| Domain / Module | Question Numbers |
|----------------|------------------|
| 1. Cellular Adaptation, Injury, & Death | 1–30 |
| 2. Inflammation, Healing, & Repair | 31–55 |
| 3. Genetics & Genomic Disorders | 56–80 |
| 4. Altered Immunity & Autoimmunity | 81–105 |
| 5. Neoplasia & Cancer Biology | 106–130 |
| 6. Fluid, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Disorders | 131–155 |
| 7. Cardiovascular Pathophysiology | 156–185 |
| 8. Respiratory Pathophysiology | 186–210 |
| 9. Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology | 211–235 |
| 10. Endocrine Pathophysiology | 236–260 |
| 11. Neurologic Pathophysiology | 261–285 |
| 12. Pediatric Pathophysiology (Age-Specific) | 286–305 |
| 13. Multisystem & Integrative Cases | 306–316 |

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# DOMAIN 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY, & DEATH (Questions 1–30)


**1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular wall thickening.
This is an example of:**
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia


**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Hypertrophy = increase in cell size due to increased workload
(pressure overload in hypertension). Hyperplasia = increase in cell number.


**2. Which type of necrosis is most commonly seen in the brain following a
stroke?**
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis


**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Brain infarct → liquefactive necrosis (tissue digested by enzymes,
forms cystic cavity). Coagulative necrosis = heart/kidney.


**3. A smoker’s bronchial epithelium changes from ciliated columnar to stratified
squamous. This is:**

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A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Atrophy


**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Metaplasia = reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type by
another. Often adaptive but increases cancer risk.


**4. The cellular swelling and rupture with inflammation seen in myocardial
infarction is characteristic of:**
A. Apoptosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis


**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* MI → coagulative necrosis (tissue architecture preserved initially,
followed by inflammation and repair).


**5. Which of the following is an example of physiologic apoptosis?**
A. Liver cell death from acetaminophen
B. Removal of webbing between fingers during embryogenesis
C. Neuronal death after stroke
D. Myocyte death after MI

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**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Physiologic apoptosis occurs during embryogenesis (removal of
interdigital webs), hormone-dependent involution, and cell turnover.


**6. A patient with tuberculosis has a lung lesion with cheese-like appearance. This
is:**
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis


**Correct Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Caseous necrosis = “cheese-like” – seen in TB, fungal infections.
Combination of coagulative and liquefactive.


**7. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is primarily mediated by:**
A. Bacterial toxins
B. Reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
C. Hypoxia alone
D. Hypercalcemia


**Correct Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Reperfusion generates free radicals (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide,
hydroxyl radical) causing further cell injury.