NR 507 Midterm Exam Advanced
Pathophysiology Chamberlain College
of Nursing Question Bank
1. A nurse is teaching a client about cellular adaptation. Which statement best
describes cellular atrophy?
• A) Increase in cell size leading to organ enlargement
• B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced workload or nutrient supply
• C) Replacement of one cell type with another
• D) Increase in the number of cells in an organ
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload, decreased
blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or loss of innervation. Hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size, metaplasia is replacement of one cell type with another, and
hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
2. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of cell injury in ischemia?
• A) Decreased ATP production leading to cellular hypoxia
• B) Increased ATP production causing cellular stress
• C) Direct damage to cell membranes by toxins
• D) Activation of apoptotic pathways without energy depletion
Rationale: Ischemia results in decreased oxygen and nutrient supply, leading to
reduced ATP production. This causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump,
cellular swelling, and ultimately cell death. ATP depletion is the primary
mechanism of ischemic injury.
,3. A client with a genetic disorder has a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene.
Which of the following best describes the function of tumor suppressor genes?
• A) They normally inhibit cell growth and prevent tumor formation
• B) They promote cell division and proliferation
• C) They repair damaged DNA only
• D) They are only active during embryonic development
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes normally inhibit cell growth and prevent
tumor formation. When mutated, they lose their protective function, allowing
uncontrolled cell division. Examples include p53 and RB genes.
4. A patient has a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. This increases the risk for
which of the following malignancies?
• A) Lung cancer and melanoma
• B) Breast and ovarian cancer
• C) Colon and prostate cancer
• D) Pancreatic and gastric cancer
Rationale: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA
repair. Mutations increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer significantly. They
are also associated with increased risk of pancreatic, prostate, and fallopian tube
cancers.
5. Which of the following is an example of a gain-of-function mutation?
• A) Mutation in the p53 gene
• B) Mutation in the RAS oncogene
• C) Deletion of the RB gene
• D) Loss of PTEN function
Rationale: A gain-of-function mutation results in increased or abnormal protein
activity. The RAS oncogene, when mutated, becomes constitutively active,
,promoting uncontrolled cell division. p53, RB, and PTEN are tumor suppressor
genes that are inactivated by loss-of-function mutations.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with cellular apoptosis. Which of the following
best describes apoptosis?
• A) Uncontrolled cell death due to injury
• B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
• C) Cell death due to necrosis with inflammation
• D) Rapid cell division leading to tumor formation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is tightly regulated and does
not trigger an inflammatory response. It is essential for normal tissue homeostasis,
embryonic development, and removal of damaged cells. Necrosis is uncontrolled
cell death that causes inflammation.
7. Which of the following cellular changes is characteristic of dysplasia?
• A) Abnormal cell size, shape, and organization
• B) Increase in cell number without atypia
• C) Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
• D) Decrease in cell size
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cell size, shape, and tissue
organization. It is often premalignant and can progress to carcinoma in situ.
Hyperplasia involves increased cell number without atypia, metaplasia involves
cell replacement, and atrophy involves decreased cell size.
8. A patient has a mitochondrial disorder. Which of the following is the
primary function of mitochondria?
• A) ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation
• B) Protein synthesis for cellular function
, • C) DNA replication for cell division
• D) Lipid synthesis for cell membranes
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for ATP
production through oxidative phosphorylation. Defects in mitochondrial function
lead to energy deficiency and affect tissues with high energy demands (e.g.,
muscle, brain).
9. Which of the following statements about the cell membrane is correct?
• A) It is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that is selectively
permeable
• B) It is impermeable to all substances except water
• C) It is composed entirely of cholesterol
• D) It is rigid and does not allow movement of molecules
Rationale: The cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins
that is selectively permeable. It allows passage of some molecules while restricting
others. Cholesterol provides fluidity and stability.
10. A client has a mutation in the gene encoding for the CFTR protein. This
results in which of the following conditions?
• A) Cystic fibrosis
• B) Sickle cell anemia
• C) Tay-Sachs disease
• D) Huntington's disease
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene, which
encodes for a chloride channel protein. This results in thick, viscous secretions in
the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in
the hemoglobin gene.
Pathophysiology Chamberlain College
of Nursing Question Bank
1. A nurse is teaching a client about cellular adaptation. Which statement best
describes cellular atrophy?
• A) Increase in cell size leading to organ enlargement
• B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced workload or nutrient supply
• C) Replacement of one cell type with another
• D) Increase in the number of cells in an organ
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload, decreased
blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or loss of innervation. Hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size, metaplasia is replacement of one cell type with another, and
hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
2. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of cell injury in ischemia?
• A) Decreased ATP production leading to cellular hypoxia
• B) Increased ATP production causing cellular stress
• C) Direct damage to cell membranes by toxins
• D) Activation of apoptotic pathways without energy depletion
Rationale: Ischemia results in decreased oxygen and nutrient supply, leading to
reduced ATP production. This causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump,
cellular swelling, and ultimately cell death. ATP depletion is the primary
mechanism of ischemic injury.
,3. A client with a genetic disorder has a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene.
Which of the following best describes the function of tumor suppressor genes?
• A) They normally inhibit cell growth and prevent tumor formation
• B) They promote cell division and proliferation
• C) They repair damaged DNA only
• D) They are only active during embryonic development
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes normally inhibit cell growth and prevent
tumor formation. When mutated, they lose their protective function, allowing
uncontrolled cell division. Examples include p53 and RB genes.
4. A patient has a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. This increases the risk for
which of the following malignancies?
• A) Lung cancer and melanoma
• B) Breast and ovarian cancer
• C) Colon and prostate cancer
• D) Pancreatic and gastric cancer
Rationale: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA
repair. Mutations increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer significantly. They
are also associated with increased risk of pancreatic, prostate, and fallopian tube
cancers.
5. Which of the following is an example of a gain-of-function mutation?
• A) Mutation in the p53 gene
• B) Mutation in the RAS oncogene
• C) Deletion of the RB gene
• D) Loss of PTEN function
Rationale: A gain-of-function mutation results in increased or abnormal protein
activity. The RAS oncogene, when mutated, becomes constitutively active,
,promoting uncontrolled cell division. p53, RB, and PTEN are tumor suppressor
genes that are inactivated by loss-of-function mutations.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with cellular apoptosis. Which of the following
best describes apoptosis?
• A) Uncontrolled cell death due to injury
• B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
• C) Cell death due to necrosis with inflammation
• D) Rapid cell division leading to tumor formation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is tightly regulated and does
not trigger an inflammatory response. It is essential for normal tissue homeostasis,
embryonic development, and removal of damaged cells. Necrosis is uncontrolled
cell death that causes inflammation.
7. Which of the following cellular changes is characteristic of dysplasia?
• A) Abnormal cell size, shape, and organization
• B) Increase in cell number without atypia
• C) Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
• D) Decrease in cell size
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cell size, shape, and tissue
organization. It is often premalignant and can progress to carcinoma in situ.
Hyperplasia involves increased cell number without atypia, metaplasia involves
cell replacement, and atrophy involves decreased cell size.
8. A patient has a mitochondrial disorder. Which of the following is the
primary function of mitochondria?
• A) ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation
• B) Protein synthesis for cellular function
, • C) DNA replication for cell division
• D) Lipid synthesis for cell membranes
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for ATP
production through oxidative phosphorylation. Defects in mitochondrial function
lead to energy deficiency and affect tissues with high energy demands (e.g.,
muscle, brain).
9. Which of the following statements about the cell membrane is correct?
• A) It is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that is selectively
permeable
• B) It is impermeable to all substances except water
• C) It is composed entirely of cholesterol
• D) It is rigid and does not allow movement of molecules
Rationale: The cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins
that is selectively permeable. It allows passage of some molecules while restricting
others. Cholesterol provides fluidity and stability.
10. A client has a mutation in the gene encoding for the CFTR protein. This
results in which of the following conditions?
• A) Cystic fibrosis
• B) Sickle cell anemia
• C) Tay-Sachs disease
• D) Huntington's disease
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene, which
encodes for a chloride channel protein. This results in thick, viscous secretions in
the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in
the hemoglobin gene.
