NSG 3280 exam 1 Authentic Questions
with 100% Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size and an increase in
functional capacity?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, leading to an increase in organ
size; it occurs in response to increased workload or hormonal stimulation (e.g., cardiac muscle in
hypertension).
2. An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to increased mitotic activity; it can be
physiologic (breast development in pregnancy) or pathologic (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic lung disease who has developed a “barrel
chest.” This finding is most likely due to:
A. Atrophy of the intercostal muscles
,B. Hypertrophy of the diaphragm
C. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the lungs
D. Overinflation of the alveoli with air trapping
Correct Answer: D. Overinflation of the alveoli with air trapping
Rationale: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), air trapping leads to
hyperinflation of the lungs, which flattens the diaphragm and increases the anteroposterior chest
diameter (barrel chest).
4. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another differentiated cell type in
response to chronic irritation is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one adult cell type is replaced by another
(e.g., squamous metaplasia in the bronchi of smokers).
5. Which of the following is an example of reversible cellular injury?
A. Apoptosis
B. Cellular swelling
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is a reversible response to injury caused by
failure of sodium-potassium pumps, leading to water influx. It resolves if the injurious stimulus
is removed.
6. A pathologist notes “fatty change” in a liver biopsy. This finding is most commonly
associated with:
, A. Acute viral hepatitis
B. Alcohol-induced liver injury
C. Hepatic carcinoma
D. Biliary cirrhosis
Correct Answer: B. Alcohol-induced liver injury
Rationale: Fatty change (steatosis) is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles within hepatocytes; it is
a common reversible response to chronic alcohol consumption and other metabolic insults.
7. Which type of necrosis is most characteristic of a myocardial infarction (heart attack)?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for several days and is typical of
ischemic injury in solid organs (heart, kidney, liver) except the brain.
8. A patient with tuberculosis develops caseous necrosis in a lung lesion. The gross
appearance of this tissue is best described as:
A. Soft and creamy yellow
B. Firm and dry with preservation of architecture
C. Opaque and chalky white
D. Dark red and hemorrhagic
Correct Answer: A. Soft and creamy yellow
Rationale: Caseous necrosis has a cheese-like (soft, friable, yellow-white) appearance; it is a
hallmark of tuberculosis.
9. Programmed cell death that occurs without triggering inflammation is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Pyroptosis
with 100% Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size and an increase in
functional capacity?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, leading to an increase in organ
size; it occurs in response to increased workload or hormonal stimulation (e.g., cardiac muscle in
hypertension).
2. An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to increased mitotic activity; it can be
physiologic (breast development in pregnancy) or pathologic (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic lung disease who has developed a “barrel
chest.” This finding is most likely due to:
A. Atrophy of the intercostal muscles
,B. Hypertrophy of the diaphragm
C. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the lungs
D. Overinflation of the alveoli with air trapping
Correct Answer: D. Overinflation of the alveoli with air trapping
Rationale: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), air trapping leads to
hyperinflation of the lungs, which flattens the diaphragm and increases the anteroposterior chest
diameter (barrel chest).
4. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another differentiated cell type in
response to chronic irritation is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one adult cell type is replaced by another
(e.g., squamous metaplasia in the bronchi of smokers).
5. Which of the following is an example of reversible cellular injury?
A. Apoptosis
B. Cellular swelling
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is a reversible response to injury caused by
failure of sodium-potassium pumps, leading to water influx. It resolves if the injurious stimulus
is removed.
6. A pathologist notes “fatty change” in a liver biopsy. This finding is most commonly
associated with:
, A. Acute viral hepatitis
B. Alcohol-induced liver injury
C. Hepatic carcinoma
D. Biliary cirrhosis
Correct Answer: B. Alcohol-induced liver injury
Rationale: Fatty change (steatosis) is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles within hepatocytes; it is
a common reversible response to chronic alcohol consumption and other metabolic insults.
7. Which type of necrosis is most characteristic of a myocardial infarction (heart attack)?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for several days and is typical of
ischemic injury in solid organs (heart, kidney, liver) except the brain.
8. A patient with tuberculosis develops caseous necrosis in a lung lesion. The gross
appearance of this tissue is best described as:
A. Soft and creamy yellow
B. Firm and dry with preservation of architecture
C. Opaque and chalky white
D. Dark red and hemorrhagic
Correct Answer: A. Soft and creamy yellow
Rationale: Caseous necrosis has a cheese-like (soft, friable, yellow-white) appearance; it is a
hallmark of tuberculosis.
9. Programmed cell death that occurs without triggering inflammation is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Pyroptosis
