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NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
Rasmussen University Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Death — Questions 1-15]
Q1: A 45-year-old male bodybuilder presents with significant enlargement of his left bicep
muscle due to rigorous weightlifting. This increase in cell size is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells, leading to an increase
in the size of the organ. In this case, the muscle fibers are thickening in response to increased
workload. Hyperplasia (A) is an increase in the number of cells. Atrophy (B) is a decrease in
size. Metaplasia (C) is a change in cell type.
Q2: A chronic smoker exhibits a change in the epithelial lining of the trachea from ciliated
columnar epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible cellular adaptation in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another cell type, usually to better withstand stress or irritation. In this case, the
,2
stratified squamous epithelium is more resistant to smoke damage than ciliated epithelium,
though it loses mucociliary clearance. Dysplasia (A) implies disordered growth and is a
precancerous change.
Q3: Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical injury
C. Genetic defects
D. Infectious agents
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular injury because
oxygen is essential for aerobic metabolism and ATP production. Without oxygen, cells cannot
generate the energy needed to maintain ionic pumps, leading to cellular swelling and death.
While chemical (B), genetic (C), and infectious (D) causes are significant, hypoxia underlies
many pathologic processes, including ischemia.
Q4: A patient presents with a "stuffed up" nose due to the common cold. The nasal epithelial
cells have increased in number to compensate for the irritation. This adaptation is called:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. Physiologic
hyperplasia occurs in response to hormonal stimulation (like the breast during pregnancy) or as a
compensatory mechanism, such as the thickening of the nasal epithelium during chronic
inflammation.
,3
Q5: A patient suffers a stroke where brain tissue liquefies. This specific type of necrosis is
characteristic of:
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Fat necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the brain because neural tissue is rich in
lysosomal enzymes and lipids, which digest the dead cells quickly, resulting in a liquid, cystic
lesion. Coagulative necrosis (B) is typical of ischemic injury in the heart and kidney.
Q6: Which cellular change is considered a precancerous condition, characterized by disordered
cellular growth and maturation?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cell growth of a specific tissue, resulting in cells that
vary in size, shape, and organization. It is strongly associated with chronic irritation and is
considered a precursor to cancer (carcinoma in situ). Anaplasia (D) refers to undifferentiated
cells seen in malignant tumors.
Q7: During cellular injury, the failure of the sodium-potassium pump leads to the influx of
sodium and water into the cell, causing:
A. Hydropic degeneration
B. Fatty change
C. Cellular atrophy
, 4
D. Karyolysis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When ATP is depleted (due to hypoxia), the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium enters the
cell followed by water, causing cellular swelling (hydropic degeneration or cloudy swelling).
This is a hallmark of reversible cellular injury. Fatty change (B) occurs in the liver due to
metabolic issues.
Q8: Which of the following best describes the pathologic change seen in a myocardial infarction
(heart attack)?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs most often in ischemic injuries to the kidney, heart, and
adrenal gland. The injury denatures structural proteins and enzymes, causing the cell to retain its
structural outline but die. Liquefactive (A) is typical of the brain.
Q9: A patient with tuberculosis presents with a lung lesion that has a "cheese-like" appearance.
This is known as:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: C
NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
Rasmussen University Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Death — Questions 1-15]
Q1: A 45-year-old male bodybuilder presents with significant enlargement of his left bicep
muscle due to rigorous weightlifting. This increase in cell size is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells, leading to an increase
in the size of the organ. In this case, the muscle fibers are thickening in response to increased
workload. Hyperplasia (A) is an increase in the number of cells. Atrophy (B) is a decrease in
size. Metaplasia (C) is a change in cell type.
Q2: A chronic smoker exhibits a change in the epithelial lining of the trachea from ciliated
columnar epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible cellular adaptation in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another cell type, usually to better withstand stress or irritation. In this case, the
,2
stratified squamous epithelium is more resistant to smoke damage than ciliated epithelium,
though it loses mucociliary clearance. Dysplasia (A) implies disordered growth and is a
precancerous change.
Q3: Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical injury
C. Genetic defects
D. Infectious agents
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular injury because
oxygen is essential for aerobic metabolism and ATP production. Without oxygen, cells cannot
generate the energy needed to maintain ionic pumps, leading to cellular swelling and death.
While chemical (B), genetic (C), and infectious (D) causes are significant, hypoxia underlies
many pathologic processes, including ischemia.
Q4: A patient presents with a "stuffed up" nose due to the common cold. The nasal epithelial
cells have increased in number to compensate for the irritation. This adaptation is called:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. Physiologic
hyperplasia occurs in response to hormonal stimulation (like the breast during pregnancy) or as a
compensatory mechanism, such as the thickening of the nasal epithelium during chronic
inflammation.
,3
Q5: A patient suffers a stroke where brain tissue liquefies. This specific type of necrosis is
characteristic of:
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Fat necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the brain because neural tissue is rich in
lysosomal enzymes and lipids, which digest the dead cells quickly, resulting in a liquid, cystic
lesion. Coagulative necrosis (B) is typical of ischemic injury in the heart and kidney.
Q6: Which cellular change is considered a precancerous condition, characterized by disordered
cellular growth and maturation?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cell growth of a specific tissue, resulting in cells that
vary in size, shape, and organization. It is strongly associated with chronic irritation and is
considered a precursor to cancer (carcinoma in situ). Anaplasia (D) refers to undifferentiated
cells seen in malignant tumors.
Q7: During cellular injury, the failure of the sodium-potassium pump leads to the influx of
sodium and water into the cell, causing:
A. Hydropic degeneration
B. Fatty change
C. Cellular atrophy
, 4
D. Karyolysis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When ATP is depleted (due to hypoxia), the Na+/K+ pump fails. Sodium enters the
cell followed by water, causing cellular swelling (hydropic degeneration or cloudy swelling).
This is a hallmark of reversible cellular injury. Fatty change (B) occurs in the liver due to
metabolic issues.
Q8: Which of the following best describes the pathologic change seen in a myocardial infarction
(heart attack)?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs most often in ischemic injuries to the kidney, heart, and
adrenal gland. The injury denatures structural proteins and enzymes, causing the cell to retain its
structural outline but die. Liquefactive (A) is typical of the brain.
Q9: A patient with tuberculosis presents with a lung lesion that has a "cheese-like" appearance.
This is known as:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: C
