NSG530 / NSG 530 Exam 1 (Latest 2025 /
2026): Advanced Pathophysiology |
Questions and Verified Answers | 100%
Correct | Grade A - Wilkes
1. A cell is exposed to a toxin that damages mitochondrial DNA. Which
cellular function will be most immediately impaired?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Lipid synthesis
C) DNA replication
D) ATP production
Rationale: Mitochondria are the primary site of oxidative phosphorylation and
ATP production. Damage to mitochondrial DNA impairs the electron transport
chain, reducing ATP synthesis. Cells with high energy demands (neurons, cardiac
muscle) are most vulnerable .
2. Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of
cells in a tissue?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
,Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to increased mitotic
division. It occurs in tissues capable of mitosis (e.g., endometrium during the
menstrual cycle, liver regeneration). Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size .
3. A patient with chronic hypoxia develops increased red blood cell
production. This is an example of:
A) Physiologic hypertrophy
B) Pathologic hyperplasia
C) Physiologic hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Increased erythropoietin production in response to hypoxia stimulates
bone marrow hyperplasia, increasing RBC production. This is a compensatory,
physiologic response. Pathologic hyperplasia is abnormal, such as endometrial
hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen .
4. Which cellular change is considered a reversible response to injury?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Cellular swelling
D) Karyolysis
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is the earliest and most reversible
manifestation of cell injury. It results from failure of the Na+/K+ pump due to
decreased ATP, causing intracellular water accumulation .
,5. A patient with chronic GERD develops intestinal-type epithelium in the
distal esophagus. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of metaplasia—a reversible
change where one adult cell type (squamous epithelium) is replaced by another
(intestinal columnar epithelium) in response to chronic irritation from gastric acid.
It is a precursor to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma .
6. Which of the following is characteristic of irreversible cell injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Decreased ATP production
C) Mitochondrial dysfunction with amorphous densities and membrane
damage
D) Detachment of ribosomes from endoplasmic reticulum
Rationale: Irreversible cell injury is marked by severe mitochondrial damage
(vacuolization, amorphous densities), profound membrane damage (plasma,
lysosomal, organellar), and nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis).
Cellular swelling and decreased ATP are reversible .
, 7. Which gene mutation would most likely lead to uncontrolled cell
proliferation?
A) Mutation in a tumor suppressor gene causing loss of function
B) Mutation in a structural protein gene
C) Mutation in a mitochondrial gene
D) Mutation in a hemoglobin gene
*Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, RB, BRCA1/2) normally inhibit
cell division or promote apoptosis. Loss-of-function mutations remove these
brakes on cell proliferation. Oncogenes are the "accelerators"—gain-of-function
mutations in proto-oncogenes drive proliferation* .
8. A child is born with an autosomal recessive disorder. Which statement
about the parents is correct?
A) Both parents must have the disease
B) Both parents are heterozygous carriers of the mutated gene
C) One parent has the disease and one is a carrier
D) Neither parent carries the gene
Rationale: In autosomal recessive inheritance, both parents must carry one copy of
the mutated gene (heterozygous carriers). The child inherits two mutated copies
(homozygous). Carriers are typically asymptomatic. The recurrence risk for each
pregnancy is 25% .
9. Which type of genetic disorder results from a mutation in mitochondrial
DNA?
2026): Advanced Pathophysiology |
Questions and Verified Answers | 100%
Correct | Grade A - Wilkes
1. A cell is exposed to a toxin that damages mitochondrial DNA. Which
cellular function will be most immediately impaired?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Lipid synthesis
C) DNA replication
D) ATP production
Rationale: Mitochondria are the primary site of oxidative phosphorylation and
ATP production. Damage to mitochondrial DNA impairs the electron transport
chain, reducing ATP synthesis. Cells with high energy demands (neurons, cardiac
muscle) are most vulnerable .
2. Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of
cells in a tissue?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
,Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to increased mitotic
division. It occurs in tissues capable of mitosis (e.g., endometrium during the
menstrual cycle, liver regeneration). Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size .
3. A patient with chronic hypoxia develops increased red blood cell
production. This is an example of:
A) Physiologic hypertrophy
B) Pathologic hyperplasia
C) Physiologic hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Increased erythropoietin production in response to hypoxia stimulates
bone marrow hyperplasia, increasing RBC production. This is a compensatory,
physiologic response. Pathologic hyperplasia is abnormal, such as endometrial
hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen .
4. Which cellular change is considered a reversible response to injury?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Cellular swelling
D) Karyolysis
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is the earliest and most reversible
manifestation of cell injury. It results from failure of the Na+/K+ pump due to
decreased ATP, causing intracellular water accumulation .
,5. A patient with chronic GERD develops intestinal-type epithelium in the
distal esophagus. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of metaplasia—a reversible
change where one adult cell type (squamous epithelium) is replaced by another
(intestinal columnar epithelium) in response to chronic irritation from gastric acid.
It is a precursor to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma .
6. Which of the following is characteristic of irreversible cell injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Decreased ATP production
C) Mitochondrial dysfunction with amorphous densities and membrane
damage
D) Detachment of ribosomes from endoplasmic reticulum
Rationale: Irreversible cell injury is marked by severe mitochondrial damage
(vacuolization, amorphous densities), profound membrane damage (plasma,
lysosomal, organellar), and nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis).
Cellular swelling and decreased ATP are reversible .
, 7. Which gene mutation would most likely lead to uncontrolled cell
proliferation?
A) Mutation in a tumor suppressor gene causing loss of function
B) Mutation in a structural protein gene
C) Mutation in a mitochondrial gene
D) Mutation in a hemoglobin gene
*Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, RB, BRCA1/2) normally inhibit
cell division or promote apoptosis. Loss-of-function mutations remove these
brakes on cell proliferation. Oncogenes are the "accelerators"—gain-of-function
mutations in proto-oncogenes drive proliferation* .
8. A child is born with an autosomal recessive disorder. Which statement
about the parents is correct?
A) Both parents must have the disease
B) Both parents are heterozygous carriers of the mutated gene
C) One parent has the disease and one is a carrier
D) Neither parent carries the gene
Rationale: In autosomal recessive inheritance, both parents must carry one copy of
the mutated gene (heterozygous carriers). The child inherits two mutated copies
(homozygous). Carriers are typically asymptomatic. The recurrence risk for each
pregnancy is 25% .
9. Which type of genetic disorder results from a mutation in mitochondrial
DNA?
