NURS 231 Module 2 Study Guide Questions and
Correct Answers
1). Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
Ans: Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the
"new growth."
2). Define proliferation and differentiation:
Ans: Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell growth
to replace old cells or when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is the process in
which cells become more specialized with each mitotic division.
3). What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
Ans: (1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that
rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide and
reproduce, like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the
cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
4). What are progenitor cells?
Ans: The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell populations rely on
progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage that have not yet differentiated to the extent
that they have lost their ability to divide. They have enough differentiation so the daughter
cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite differentiated enough to prohibit active
proliferation.
5). What are the benefits of the stem cell?
Ans: Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed, they can divide,
produce other stem cells, and carry out the functions of the differentiated cell. Two
important properties that stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal
means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while maintaining an
undifferentiated state. Potency describes the differentiation potential of stem cells.
6). What is a polyp?
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, Ans: A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as the intestine. A
polyp can be benign or malignant.
7). Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
Ans: The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer cell must break
loose from the primary tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to
a blood vessel, survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable location,
invade the surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a blood supply.
8). What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms?
Ans: Solid tumors and hematologic cancers
9). Explain what carcinoma in situ is?
Ans: Carcinoma in situ is a localized preinvasive lesion. These can typically be
surgically removed or treated, and recurrence is less likely.
10). What is seeding?
Ans: Seeding of cancer cells into body cavities occurs when a tumor sheds cells into
these spaces. Most often seeding occurs into the peritoneal cavity, as typically seen with
ovarian cancer.
11). What is important about the sentinel node?
Ans: The first evidence of disease may be found in the lymph nodes that drain the
tumor area. The sentinel node is the first lymph node to which the primary tumor drains.
This lymph node is examined for the presence of cancer cells.
12). What is angiogenesis?
Ans: When the tumor reaches the distant site, it must establish blood vessels and
growth factors to continue to grow. The development of new blood vessels within the
tumor is termed angiogenesis.
13). What are the 2 broad etiologic causes of cancer?
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Correct Answers
1). Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
Ans: Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the
"new growth."
2). Define proliferation and differentiation:
Ans: Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell growth
to replace old cells or when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is the process in
which cells become more specialized with each mitotic division.
3). What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
Ans: (1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that
rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide and
reproduce, like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the
cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
4). What are progenitor cells?
Ans: The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell populations rely on
progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage that have not yet differentiated to the extent
that they have lost their ability to divide. They have enough differentiation so the daughter
cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite differentiated enough to prohibit active
proliferation.
5). What are the benefits of the stem cell?
Ans: Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed, they can divide,
produce other stem cells, and carry out the functions of the differentiated cell. Two
important properties that stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal
means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while maintaining an
undifferentiated state. Potency describes the differentiation potential of stem cells.
6). What is a polyp?
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 5
, Ans: A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as the intestine. A
polyp can be benign or malignant.
7). Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
Ans: The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer cell must break
loose from the primary tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to
a blood vessel, survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable location,
invade the surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a blood supply.
8). What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms?
Ans: Solid tumors and hematologic cancers
9). Explain what carcinoma in situ is?
Ans: Carcinoma in situ is a localized preinvasive lesion. These can typically be
surgically removed or treated, and recurrence is less likely.
10). What is seeding?
Ans: Seeding of cancer cells into body cavities occurs when a tumor sheds cells into
these spaces. Most often seeding occurs into the peritoneal cavity, as typically seen with
ovarian cancer.
11). What is important about the sentinel node?
Ans: The first evidence of disease may be found in the lymph nodes that drain the
tumor area. The sentinel node is the first lymph node to which the primary tumor drains.
This lymph node is examined for the presence of cancer cells.
12). What is angiogenesis?
Ans: When the tumor reaches the distant site, it must establish blood vessels and
growth factors to continue to grow. The development of new blood vessels within the
tumor is termed angiogenesis.
13). What are the 2 broad etiologic causes of cancer?
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