NURS 611 EXAM 1 PATHO ACTUAL EXAM Maryville University
– Dr. Wunderlich AND TEST BANK NEWEST VERSION
COMPLETE 100+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
(MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY) 2026/2027
COVERAGE OVERVIEW
This comprehensive document provides 100 verified multiple-choice questions and answers for
Maryville University's NURS 611 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 1 with Dr. Wunderlich. Based on
actual exam content from the 2025/2026 academic year, this resource covers foundational
pathophysiology concepts essential for graduate-level nursing students .
EXAM COVERAGE BY SECTION
Section Topic Area Questions
1 Cellular Biology & Adaptation 1-15
2 Cellular Injury & Death 16-25
3 Fluid & Electrolyte Balance 26-40
4 Acid-Base Disorders 41-50
5 Genetics & Genetic Disorders 51-60
6 Inflammation & Immunity 61-75
7 Hypersensitivity Reactions 76-85
,Section Topic Area Questions
8 Stress & Adaptation 86-95
9 Integrative Concepts 96-100
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY & ADAPTATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient is diagnosed with cardiac ischemia. At a cellular level, what is the most likely primary
mechanism of injury?
A. Free radical injury from reperfusion
B. Chemical injury from lipid accumulation
C. Apoptosis from genetic programming
D. Hypoxic injury due to inadequate blood flow
Explanation: Ischemia is the most common cause of hypoxia, resulting from reduced blood flow (oxygen
delivery) to tissues. While reperfusion injury can occur when flow is restored, the primary mechanism of
injury during ischemia is hypoxia .
Question 2
A pathologist notes that the heart of a patient with long-standing hypertension shows an increased
muscle mass with larger myocytes. This is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the
organ. In hypertension, cardiac myocytes enlarge to compensate for increased workload. Hyperplasia is
an increase in cell number .
Question 3
Which cellular adaptation is considered irreversible and is a hallmark of high-grade squamous
intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in the cervix?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
, C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Explanation: Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth, characterized by variations in size, shape, and
organization. While often reversible if the irritating stimulus is removed, high-grade dysplasia is
considered a pre-malignant state .
Question 4
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has the normal stratified squamous
epithelium of the lower esophagus replaced by columnar epithelium. This process is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Barrett metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Neoplasia
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another. In
GERD, the esophagus undergoes metaplasia to columnar epithelium (Barrett esophagus) to better
withstand the acidic environment .
Question 5
During cellular injury, what happens to sodium (Na+) and water due to failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase
pump?
A. Sodium moves out of the cell; water follows, causing cell shrinkage
B. Sodium moves into the cell; water follows, causing cellular swelling
C. Potassium moves into the cell; water follows, causing cellular swelling
D. Sodium and potassium equilibrium is maintained by passive diffusion
Explanation: The Na+/K+ ATPase pump maintains high intracellular K+ and low intracellular Na+. When
ATP is depleted (hypoxia), the pump fails. Na+ accumulates intracellularly, increasing osmotic pressure,
drawing water into the cell, causing hydropic swelling—the earliest sign of cellular injury .
Question 6
Which mechanism of cell death is characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
formation of apoptotic bodies without triggering inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Pyroptosis
D. Autophagy
– Dr. Wunderlich AND TEST BANK NEWEST VERSION
COMPLETE 100+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
(MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY) 2026/2027
COVERAGE OVERVIEW
This comprehensive document provides 100 verified multiple-choice questions and answers for
Maryville University's NURS 611 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 1 with Dr. Wunderlich. Based on
actual exam content from the 2025/2026 academic year, this resource covers foundational
pathophysiology concepts essential for graduate-level nursing students .
EXAM COVERAGE BY SECTION
Section Topic Area Questions
1 Cellular Biology & Adaptation 1-15
2 Cellular Injury & Death 16-25
3 Fluid & Electrolyte Balance 26-40
4 Acid-Base Disorders 41-50
5 Genetics & Genetic Disorders 51-60
6 Inflammation & Immunity 61-75
7 Hypersensitivity Reactions 76-85
,Section Topic Area Questions
8 Stress & Adaptation 86-95
9 Integrative Concepts 96-100
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY & ADAPTATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient is diagnosed with cardiac ischemia. At a cellular level, what is the most likely primary
mechanism of injury?
A. Free radical injury from reperfusion
B. Chemical injury from lipid accumulation
C. Apoptosis from genetic programming
D. Hypoxic injury due to inadequate blood flow
Explanation: Ischemia is the most common cause of hypoxia, resulting from reduced blood flow (oxygen
delivery) to tissues. While reperfusion injury can occur when flow is restored, the primary mechanism of
injury during ischemia is hypoxia .
Question 2
A pathologist notes that the heart of a patient with long-standing hypertension shows an increased
muscle mass with larger myocytes. This is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the
organ. In hypertension, cardiac myocytes enlarge to compensate for increased workload. Hyperplasia is
an increase in cell number .
Question 3
Which cellular adaptation is considered irreversible and is a hallmark of high-grade squamous
intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in the cervix?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
, C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Explanation: Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth, characterized by variations in size, shape, and
organization. While often reversible if the irritating stimulus is removed, high-grade dysplasia is
considered a pre-malignant state .
Question 4
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has the normal stratified squamous
epithelium of the lower esophagus replaced by columnar epithelium. This process is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Barrett metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Neoplasia
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another. In
GERD, the esophagus undergoes metaplasia to columnar epithelium (Barrett esophagus) to better
withstand the acidic environment .
Question 5
During cellular injury, what happens to sodium (Na+) and water due to failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase
pump?
A. Sodium moves out of the cell; water follows, causing cell shrinkage
B. Sodium moves into the cell; water follows, causing cellular swelling
C. Potassium moves into the cell; water follows, causing cellular swelling
D. Sodium and potassium equilibrium is maintained by passive diffusion
Explanation: The Na+/K+ ATPase pump maintains high intracellular K+ and low intracellular Na+. When
ATP is depleted (hypoxia), the pump fails. Na+ accumulates intracellularly, increasing osmotic pressure,
drawing water into the cell, causing hydropic swelling—the earliest sign of cellular injury .
Question 6
Which mechanism of cell death is characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
formation of apoptotic bodies without triggering inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Pyroptosis
D. Autophagy
