SOUTH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING
NSG 6001 Week 2 Quiz
Advanced Pathophysiology - 100% Correct
Official Practice Exam - 2026/2027 Edition
50 Questions 60 Minutes 80% Passing Score 4 Sections
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology and Adaptation .......... Questions 1-13
Section 2: Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection .......... Questions 14-25
Section 3: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance .......... Questions 26-38
Section 4: Genetics and Epigenetics in Disease .......... Questions 39-50
Answer Key .......................... Last Page
INSTRUCTIONS
This practice exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions divided into 4 sections covering advanced
pathophysiology topics.
You have 60 minutes to complete the entire exam. A passing score of 80% (40/50) is required.
Each question has four options (A, B, C, D). Select the single best answer for each question.
The correct answer and rationale are provided immediately after each question for study purposes.
The 2026/2027 designation confirms this exam reflects the most current course content and testing
standards.
This is an independent practice exam and is not affiliated with or endorsed by South University.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
1 of1 28
,Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology and Adaptation - 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 50
A 62-year-old male with a 40-pack-year smoking history presents with chronic bronchitis and persistent
cough. Biopsy of the bronchial epithelium reveals a change from normal ciliated columnar epithelium to
stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is best classified as:
A. Squamous metaplasia, a reversible substitution of one differentiated cell type for another in
response to chronic irritation
B. Squamous dysplasia, an irreversible precancerous transformation with disordered cellular maturation
C. Squamous hyperplasia, an increase in the number of normal squamous cells due to hormonal
stimulation
D. Squamous neoplasia, an uncontrolled proliferation of genetically altered squamous cells
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Squamous metaplasia is a reversible substitution of one adult cell type for another in response to chronic
stress such as smoking, where ciliated columnar cells are replaced by stratified squamous cells. Dysplasia
involves disordered maturation and atypia, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number of the same type, and
neoplasia is uncontrolled growth of genetically altered cells.
Q2 Question 2 of 50
A 55-year-old female with long-standing hypertension has an echocardiogram showing increased left
ventricular wall thickness. The cardiologist explains that the myocardial cells have enlarged in response to
the increased workload. This process of cellular enlargement is specifically termed:
A. Hyperplasia, an increase in the number of cardiac myocytes due to mitotic cell division
B. Hypertrophy, an increase in the size of existing cardiac myocytes without an increase in cell
number
C. Metaplasia, a conversion of cardiac myocytes to a different cell type under mechanical stress
D. Dysplasia, an abnormal maturation of cardiac myocytes resulting in disorganized architecture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of existing cells, which is the primary adaptive mechanism in
post-mitotic tissues such as cardiac muscle that cannot undergo hyperplasia. Hyperplasia is an increase in
cell number, metaplasia is cell type conversion, and dysplasia is disordered maturation, none of which
describe the enlargement of existing myocytes.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
2 of2 28
, Q3 Question 3 of 50
A 48-year-old male with a history of heavy alcohol use presents with hepatomegaly and elevated liver
enzymes. Liver biopsy reveals hepatocytes containing large lipid vacuoles that displace the nucleus to the
periphery. This morphologic finding is most consistent with:
A. Hydropic degeneration, an accumulation of intracellular water due to sodium-potassium pump failure
B. Hyaline change, an accumulation of eosinophilic proteinaceous material within the cytoplasm
C. Steatosis, an abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocytes due to disrupted lipid
metabolism
D. Glycogen storage, an accumulation of intracellular glycogen due to enzymatic metabolic defects
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) is the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within parenchymal cells, most
commonly seen in the liver due to alcohol toxicity, obesity, or diabetes. Hydropic degeneration involves
water accumulation, hyaline change involves protein accumulation, and glycogen storage involves
carbohydrate accumulation, all of which produce different histologic appearances.
Q4 Question 4 of 50
A 35-year-old female presents with a palpable breast mass. Excisional biopsy reveals proliferating ductal
epithelial cells with normal architectural pattern and no cellular atypia. The pathologist diagnoses a
fibroadenoma. This breast lesion is best classified as:
A. A malignant neoplasm arising from ductal epithelium with potential for metastasis
B. An inflammatory lesion resulting from chronic infection of the breast ducts
C. A metaplastic transformation of adipose tissue into fibrous connective tissue
D. A benign neoplasm composed of proliferating ductal epithelial and stromal components
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
A fibroadenoma is a benign neoplasm composed of both proliferating ductal epithelial and stromal
components without cellular atypia or invasive behavior. Malignant neoplasms show atypia and metastatic
potential, inflammatory lesions involve immune cell infiltration, and metaplasia involves cell type conversion
rather than neoplastic proliferation.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
3 of3 28
NSG 6001 Week 2 Quiz
Advanced Pathophysiology - 100% Correct
Official Practice Exam - 2026/2027 Edition
50 Questions 60 Minutes 80% Passing Score 4 Sections
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology and Adaptation .......... Questions 1-13
Section 2: Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection .......... Questions 14-25
Section 3: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance .......... Questions 26-38
Section 4: Genetics and Epigenetics in Disease .......... Questions 39-50
Answer Key .......................... Last Page
INSTRUCTIONS
This practice exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions divided into 4 sections covering advanced
pathophysiology topics.
You have 60 minutes to complete the entire exam. A passing score of 80% (40/50) is required.
Each question has four options (A, B, C, D). Select the single best answer for each question.
The correct answer and rationale are provided immediately after each question for study purposes.
The 2026/2027 designation confirms this exam reflects the most current course content and testing
standards.
This is an independent practice exam and is not affiliated with or endorsed by South University.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
1 of1 28
,Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology and Adaptation - 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 50
A 62-year-old male with a 40-pack-year smoking history presents with chronic bronchitis and persistent
cough. Biopsy of the bronchial epithelium reveals a change from normal ciliated columnar epithelium to
stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is best classified as:
A. Squamous metaplasia, a reversible substitution of one differentiated cell type for another in
response to chronic irritation
B. Squamous dysplasia, an irreversible precancerous transformation with disordered cellular maturation
C. Squamous hyperplasia, an increase in the number of normal squamous cells due to hormonal
stimulation
D. Squamous neoplasia, an uncontrolled proliferation of genetically altered squamous cells
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Squamous metaplasia is a reversible substitution of one adult cell type for another in response to chronic
stress such as smoking, where ciliated columnar cells are replaced by stratified squamous cells. Dysplasia
involves disordered maturation and atypia, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number of the same type, and
neoplasia is uncontrolled growth of genetically altered cells.
Q2 Question 2 of 50
A 55-year-old female with long-standing hypertension has an echocardiogram showing increased left
ventricular wall thickness. The cardiologist explains that the myocardial cells have enlarged in response to
the increased workload. This process of cellular enlargement is specifically termed:
A. Hyperplasia, an increase in the number of cardiac myocytes due to mitotic cell division
B. Hypertrophy, an increase in the size of existing cardiac myocytes without an increase in cell
number
C. Metaplasia, a conversion of cardiac myocytes to a different cell type under mechanical stress
D. Dysplasia, an abnormal maturation of cardiac myocytes resulting in disorganized architecture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of existing cells, which is the primary adaptive mechanism in
post-mitotic tissues such as cardiac muscle that cannot undergo hyperplasia. Hyperplasia is an increase in
cell number, metaplasia is cell type conversion, and dysplasia is disordered maturation, none of which
describe the enlargement of existing myocytes.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
2 of2 28
, Q3 Question 3 of 50
A 48-year-old male with a history of heavy alcohol use presents with hepatomegaly and elevated liver
enzymes. Liver biopsy reveals hepatocytes containing large lipid vacuoles that displace the nucleus to the
periphery. This morphologic finding is most consistent with:
A. Hydropic degeneration, an accumulation of intracellular water due to sodium-potassium pump failure
B. Hyaline change, an accumulation of eosinophilic proteinaceous material within the cytoplasm
C. Steatosis, an abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocytes due to disrupted lipid
metabolism
D. Glycogen storage, an accumulation of intracellular glycogen due to enzymatic metabolic defects
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) is the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within parenchymal cells, most
commonly seen in the liver due to alcohol toxicity, obesity, or diabetes. Hydropic degeneration involves
water accumulation, hyaline change involves protein accumulation, and glycogen storage involves
carbohydrate accumulation, all of which produce different histologic appearances.
Q4 Question 4 of 50
A 35-year-old female presents with a palpable breast mass. Excisional biopsy reveals proliferating ductal
epithelial cells with normal architectural pattern and no cellular atypia. The pathologist diagnoses a
fibroadenoma. This breast lesion is best classified as:
A. A malignant neoplasm arising from ductal epithelium with potential for metastasis
B. An inflammatory lesion resulting from chronic infection of the breast ducts
C. A metaplastic transformation of adipose tissue into fibrous connective tissue
D. A benign neoplasm composed of proliferating ductal epithelial and stromal components
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
A fibroadenoma is a benign neoplasm composed of both proliferating ductal epithelial and stromal
components without cellular atypia or invasive behavior. Malignant neoplasms show atypia and metastatic
potential, inflammatory lesions involve immune cell infiltration, and metaplasia involves cell type conversion
rather than neoplastic proliferation.
NSG
NSG
6001
6001
Week
Week
2 Quiz
2 Quiz
- 2026/2027
- 2026/2027
| Passing
| Passing
Score:
Score:
80%80%
| Page
| Page
3 of3 28
