1
NUR 2063 Exam 1 V2 NUR 2063 Essentials of
Pathophysiology Exam 1, Version 2: Comprehensive
Review Questions & Answers with Rationales (Updated
for 2025–2026 Academic Year)
Questions 1–20: Cellular Biology & Injury
Q1. Which organelle is responsible for ATP production?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Golgi apparatus
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, generating ATP through cellular
respiration. They contain their own DNA and are highly concentrated in energy-demanding
tissues like muscle and brain.
Q2. Which organelle contains digestive enzymes that break down cellular debris?
A. Lysosome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Peroxisome
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Nucleolus
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest waste, pathogens, and damaged
organelles. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Q3. Which cellular structure regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell?
A. Cell membrane ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
, 2
B. Nuclear envelope
C. Cytoplasm
D. Mitochondrial membrane
Rationale: The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is selectively permeable, controlling ion and
molecule transport via channels, carriers, and pumps.
Q4. What is the primary component of the cell membrane?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Nucleic acids
C. Phospholipid bilayer ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Steroid hormones
Rationale: The phospholipid bilayer forms the basic structure of the cell membrane, with
hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails inward.
Q5. Which organelle synthesizes proteins?
A. Smooth ER
B. Ribosome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Golgi apparatus
D. Nucleus
Rationale: Ribosomes, either free in cytoplasm or attached to rough ER, translate mRNA into
polypeptide chains (proteins).
Q6. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is distinguished from smooth ER by the presence of:
A. Ribosomes ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Mitochondria
, 3
C. Lysosomes
D. Centrioles
Rationale: Rough ER is studded with ribosomes, giving it a "rough" appearance under
microscopy, and is involved in protein synthesis and folding.
Q7. Which organelle modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport?
A. Rough ER
B. Smooth ER
C. Golgi apparatus ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Nucleus
Rationale: The Golgi apparatus receives proteins from the ER, modifies them (e.g., adding
carbohydrates), and packages them into vesicles for secretion or intracellular use.
Q8. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is primarily involved in:
A. Protein synthesis
B. Lipid synthesis and detoxification ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. ATP production
D. DNA replication
Rationale: Smooth ER synthesizes lipids (including steroids), metabolizes carbohydrates, and
detoxifies drugs and poisons (especially in liver cells).
Q9. Which organelle contains catalase to break down hydrogen peroxide?
A. Lysosome
B. Peroxisome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleolus
, 4
Rationale: Peroxisomes contain catalase and other oxidative enzymes that break down very-
long-chain fatty acids and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Q10. The nucleus contains which genetic material?
A. RNA only
B. DNA only
C. DNA and RNA ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Proteins only
Rationale: The nucleus houses most of the cell's DNA (chromosomes) and is also the site of RNA
transcription (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).
Q11. What is the function of the nucleolus?
A. DNA replication
B. Ribosome subunit assembly ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Protein packaging
D. ATP synthesis
Rationale: The nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is
transcribed and ribosome subunits are assembled.
Q12. Which cytoskeletal component is the thickest and provides structural support?
A. Microtubules ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microfilaments
C. Intermediate filaments
D. Centrioles
Rationale: Microtubules (25 nm diameter) are the largest cytoskeletal elements, providing
structural support, intracellular transport tracks, and forming the mitotic spindle.
NUR 2063 Exam 1 V2 NUR 2063 Essentials of
Pathophysiology Exam 1, Version 2: Comprehensive
Review Questions & Answers with Rationales (Updated
for 2025–2026 Academic Year)
Questions 1–20: Cellular Biology & Injury
Q1. Which organelle is responsible for ATP production?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Golgi apparatus
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, generating ATP through cellular
respiration. They contain their own DNA and are highly concentrated in energy-demanding
tissues like muscle and brain.
Q2. Which organelle contains digestive enzymes that break down cellular debris?
A. Lysosome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Peroxisome
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Nucleolus
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest waste, pathogens, and damaged
organelles. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Q3. Which cellular structure regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell?
A. Cell membrane ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
, 2
B. Nuclear envelope
C. Cytoplasm
D. Mitochondrial membrane
Rationale: The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is selectively permeable, controlling ion and
molecule transport via channels, carriers, and pumps.
Q4. What is the primary component of the cell membrane?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Nucleic acids
C. Phospholipid bilayer ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Steroid hormones
Rationale: The phospholipid bilayer forms the basic structure of the cell membrane, with
hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails inward.
Q5. Which organelle synthesizes proteins?
A. Smooth ER
B. Ribosome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Golgi apparatus
D. Nucleus
Rationale: Ribosomes, either free in cytoplasm or attached to rough ER, translate mRNA into
polypeptide chains (proteins).
Q6. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is distinguished from smooth ER by the presence of:
A. Ribosomes ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Mitochondria
, 3
C. Lysosomes
D. Centrioles
Rationale: Rough ER is studded with ribosomes, giving it a "rough" appearance under
microscopy, and is involved in protein synthesis and folding.
Q7. Which organelle modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport?
A. Rough ER
B. Smooth ER
C. Golgi apparatus ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Nucleus
Rationale: The Golgi apparatus receives proteins from the ER, modifies them (e.g., adding
carbohydrates), and packages them into vesicles for secretion or intracellular use.
Q8. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is primarily involved in:
A. Protein synthesis
B. Lipid synthesis and detoxification ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. ATP production
D. DNA replication
Rationale: Smooth ER synthesizes lipids (including steroids), metabolizes carbohydrates, and
detoxifies drugs and poisons (especially in liver cells).
Q9. Which organelle contains catalase to break down hydrogen peroxide?
A. Lysosome
B. Peroxisome ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleolus
, 4
Rationale: Peroxisomes contain catalase and other oxidative enzymes that break down very-
long-chain fatty acids and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Q10. The nucleus contains which genetic material?
A. RNA only
B. DNA only
C. DNA and RNA ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
D. Proteins only
Rationale: The nucleus houses most of the cell's DNA (chromosomes) and is also the site of RNA
transcription (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).
Q11. What is the function of the nucleolus?
A. DNA replication
B. Ribosome subunit assembly ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Protein packaging
D. ATP synthesis
Rationale: The nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is
transcribed and ribosome subunits are assembled.
Q12. Which cytoskeletal component is the thickest and provides structural support?
A. Microtubules ☑ CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microfilaments
C. Intermediate filaments
D. Centrioles
Rationale: Microtubules (25 nm diameter) are the largest cytoskeletal elements, providing
structural support, intracellular transport tracks, and forming the mitotic spindle.
