[NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1/100] COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027 LATEST
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FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE TEST |
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1. Which statement best describes homeostasis?
A. Complete absence of physiologic change
B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
C. Permanent adaptation to stressors
D. Continuous cellular proliferation
Correct Answer: B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to dynamic balance within the body. Physiologic adjustments occur
constantly to maintain stability. The other options do not accurately define this concept.
2. A patient develops swelling after an ankle injury. Which process is primarily responsible for the
swelling?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Decreased capillary permeability
C. Increased vascular permeability
D. Reduced blood flow
Correct Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Inflammation increases vascular permeability, allowing fluid to move into tissues and
produce edema. The other options would reduce swelling rather than promote it.
3. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in skeletal muscle after regular strength
training?
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, commonly seen in muscles exposed to increased
workload. Dysplasia and metaplasia involve abnormal cellular changes.
4. Which condition is an example of pathologic atrophy?
A. Enlarged uterus during pregnancy
B. Muscle loss from prolonged immobilization
C. Increased cardiac muscle from exercise
D. Bone growth during adolescence
Correct Answer: B. Muscle loss from prolonged immobilization
Rationale: Disuse causes muscle atrophy. The remaining options describe normal physiologic growth
or adaptation.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Excess oxygen
B. ATP depletion
,C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: B. ATP depletion
Rationale: ATP depletion disrupts cellular function and is a major mechanism of injury. Adequate ATP
is essential for membrane pumps and metabolism.
6. A nurse reviews laboratory findings showing elevated serum potassium after extensive tissue
damage. What is the likely explanation?
A. Potassium moved into cells
B. Potassium production increased
C. Cell membrane damage released intracellular potassium
D. Renal filtration increased
Correct Answer: C. Cell membrane damage released intracellular potassium
Rationale: Potassium is primarily intracellular. Cell destruction releases potassium into the
bloodstream, increasing serum levels.
7. Which process is characterized by programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that minimizes inflammation. Necrosis is
uncontrolled cellular destruction.
8. A patient experiences tissue death following severe ischemia. Which type of cell death is most
likely present?
A. Apoptosis
B. Hyperplasia
C. Necrosis
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Necrosis
Rationale: Severe ischemia commonly causes necrosis due to irreversible injury and loss of membrane
integrity.
9. Which characteristic is commonly associated with acute inflammation?
A. Fibrosis
B. Neutrophil predominance
C. Scar formation
D. Lymphocyte predominance
Correct Answer: B. Neutrophil predominance
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary cells involved in acute inflammation. Lymphocytes are more
characteristic of chronic inflammation.
10. A patient has redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at a surgical incision. These findings
represent:
A. Infection only
B. Immune deficiency
C. Normal inflammatory response
D. Malignancy
, Correct Answer: C. Normal inflammatory response
Rationale: The cardinal signs of inflammation include redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. These
findings are expected during tissue healing.
11. Which mediator is most responsible for vasodilation during inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased capillary permeability during
inflammatory responses.
12. What is the primary function of neutrophils?
A. Antibody production
B. Phagocytosis of pathogens
C. Histamine release
D. Clot formation
Correct Answer: B. Phagocytosis of pathogens
Rationale: Neutrophils are first responders that engulf and destroy microorganisms during acute
inflammation.
13. Which factor increases the risk of developing cancer?
A. Controlled cell growth
B. DNA damage
C. Apoptosis
D. Tissue repair
Correct Answer: B. DNA damage
Rationale: DNA mutations can disrupt normal growth regulation and contribute to malignant
transformation.
14. A malignant tumor differs from a benign tumor because it:
A. Grows slowly
B. Remains localized
C. Metastasizes
D. Has a capsule
Correct Answer: C. Metastasizes
Rationale: Metastasis is a defining feature of malignant tumors and involves spread to distant sites.
15. Which chromosome abnormality causes Down syndrome?
A. Trisomy 21
B. Trisomy 18
C. Monosomy X
D. Trisomy 13
Correct Answer: A. Trisomy 21
Rationale: Down syndrome results from an extra copy of chromosome 21.
16. Which term describes the study of inherited disorders?
A. Immunology
B. Histology
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027 LATEST
UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED RATIONALES |
FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE TEST |
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. Which statement best describes homeostasis?
A. Complete absence of physiologic change
B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
C. Permanent adaptation to stressors
D. Continuous cellular proliferation
Correct Answer: B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to dynamic balance within the body. Physiologic adjustments occur
constantly to maintain stability. The other options do not accurately define this concept.
2. A patient develops swelling after an ankle injury. Which process is primarily responsible for the
swelling?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Decreased capillary permeability
C. Increased vascular permeability
D. Reduced blood flow
Correct Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Inflammation increases vascular permeability, allowing fluid to move into tissues and
produce edema. The other options would reduce swelling rather than promote it.
3. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in skeletal muscle after regular strength
training?
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, commonly seen in muscles exposed to increased
workload. Dysplasia and metaplasia involve abnormal cellular changes.
4. Which condition is an example of pathologic atrophy?
A. Enlarged uterus during pregnancy
B. Muscle loss from prolonged immobilization
C. Increased cardiac muscle from exercise
D. Bone growth during adolescence
Correct Answer: B. Muscle loss from prolonged immobilization
Rationale: Disuse causes muscle atrophy. The remaining options describe normal physiologic growth
or adaptation.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Excess oxygen
B. ATP depletion
,C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: B. ATP depletion
Rationale: ATP depletion disrupts cellular function and is a major mechanism of injury. Adequate ATP
is essential for membrane pumps and metabolism.
6. A nurse reviews laboratory findings showing elevated serum potassium after extensive tissue
damage. What is the likely explanation?
A. Potassium moved into cells
B. Potassium production increased
C. Cell membrane damage released intracellular potassium
D. Renal filtration increased
Correct Answer: C. Cell membrane damage released intracellular potassium
Rationale: Potassium is primarily intracellular. Cell destruction releases potassium into the
bloodstream, increasing serum levels.
7. Which process is characterized by programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that minimizes inflammation. Necrosis is
uncontrolled cellular destruction.
8. A patient experiences tissue death following severe ischemia. Which type of cell death is most
likely present?
A. Apoptosis
B. Hyperplasia
C. Necrosis
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Necrosis
Rationale: Severe ischemia commonly causes necrosis due to irreversible injury and loss of membrane
integrity.
9. Which characteristic is commonly associated with acute inflammation?
A. Fibrosis
B. Neutrophil predominance
C. Scar formation
D. Lymphocyte predominance
Correct Answer: B. Neutrophil predominance
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary cells involved in acute inflammation. Lymphocytes are more
characteristic of chronic inflammation.
10. A patient has redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at a surgical incision. These findings
represent:
A. Infection only
B. Immune deficiency
C. Normal inflammatory response
D. Malignancy
, Correct Answer: C. Normal inflammatory response
Rationale: The cardinal signs of inflammation include redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. These
findings are expected during tissue healing.
11. Which mediator is most responsible for vasodilation during inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased capillary permeability during
inflammatory responses.
12. What is the primary function of neutrophils?
A. Antibody production
B. Phagocytosis of pathogens
C. Histamine release
D. Clot formation
Correct Answer: B. Phagocytosis of pathogens
Rationale: Neutrophils are first responders that engulf and destroy microorganisms during acute
inflammation.
13. Which factor increases the risk of developing cancer?
A. Controlled cell growth
B. DNA damage
C. Apoptosis
D. Tissue repair
Correct Answer: B. DNA damage
Rationale: DNA mutations can disrupt normal growth regulation and contribute to malignant
transformation.
14. A malignant tumor differs from a benign tumor because it:
A. Grows slowly
B. Remains localized
C. Metastasizes
D. Has a capsule
Correct Answer: C. Metastasizes
Rationale: Metastasis is a defining feature of malignant tumors and involves spread to distant sites.
15. Which chromosome abnormality causes Down syndrome?
A. Trisomy 21
B. Trisomy 18
C. Monosomy X
D. Trisomy 13
Correct Answer: A. Trisomy 21
Rationale: Down syndrome results from an extra copy of chromosome 21.
16. Which term describes the study of inherited disorders?
A. Immunology
B. Histology
