NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 2026/2027 | Page 1 | Passing Score: 80%
WALDEN UNIVERSITY
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology
Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY · Official Exam 2026/2027
100 80% CERTIFIED
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Genetic Disorders Q1-Q20
Section 2 Immunity, Inflammation & Infectious Processes Q21-Q40
Section 3 Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance Q41-Q60
Section 4 Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Q61-Q80
Section 5 Pulmonary Pathophysiology Q81-Q100
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for NURS 6501 Advanced
Pathophysiology midterm exam preparation. Passing score: 80% (80 questions correct).
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 2
, SECTION 1 | Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Genetic Disorders | Q1-Q20 | NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027
2026/2027 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
A 55-year-old man with chronic alcohol use disorder presents with an enlarged,
tender liver. Liver biopsy shows hepatocytes containing large lipid vacuoles
displacing the nucleus to the periphery. This morphologic change is best described
as which of the following?
A. Hydropic degeneration
B. Metaplasia
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Steatosis (fatty change)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles within parenchymal cells, most commonly seen in
the liver due to alcohol toxicity, metabolic syndrome, or toxin exposure. Hydropic degeneration involves cellular
swelling from water accumulation, and coagulative necrosis involves protein denaturation with preservation of
tissue architecture.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
A 48-year-old woman with chronic reflux esophagitis has a biopsy showing
replacement of the normal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium
containing goblet cells. This adaptive cellular change is best classified as which of
the following?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Barrett esophagus represents metaplasia, a reversible change where one adult cell type (squamous) is
replaced by another (columnar with goblet cells) in response to chronic injury from acid reflux. This is an
adaptive response, unlike dysplasia which is disordered growth, or neoplasia which is new, uncontrolled
growth.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 2
, Q3 Question 3 of 100
A 62-year-old man suffers an acute myocardial infarction involving the left ventricle.
Five days later, the infarcted tissue shows preserved tissue architecture with loss of
nuclei and intense eosinophilic staining of the cytoplasm. This pattern of necrosis is
classified as which type?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Coagulative necrosis is characterized by preservation of tissue architecture with loss of cell nuclei and
eosinophilic cytoplasm, typically seen in ischemic injury to solid organs like the heart and kidney. Liquefactive
necrosis involves enzymatic tissue digestion with loss of architecture, as seen in the brain.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
A 35-year-old man develops a brain abscess. The center of the abscess contains
liquefied, necrotic material with complete loss of tissue architecture. This pattern of
necrosis is best classified as which type?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Fibrinoid necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Liquefactive necrosis is characterized by complete digestion of tissue with loss of architecture, forming a liquid
center, commonly seen in brain infarcts and bacterial abscesses where hydrolytic enzymes digest the tissue.
This differs from coagulative necrosis where architecture is preserved.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 2
, Q5 Question 5 of 100
A 40-year-old woman with a history of tuberculosis develops a lung granuloma with
a central area of amorphous, cheeselike material surrounded by epithelioid
macrophages. This type of necrosis is classified as which of the following?
A. Fibrinoid necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Caseous necrosis (cheeselike) is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis most commonly
associated with tuberculosis, where the necrotic center is amorphous and granular with complete loss of
architecture, surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory border.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
A 70-year-old man with severe atherosclerosis undergoes carotid endarterectomy.
Histologic examination of the plaque shows focal, pink, amorphous material within
the vessel wall that stains positively with eosin. This finding represents which type
of necrosis?
A. Caseous necrosis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Fibrinoid necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Fibrinoid necrosis appears as bright pink, amorphous material within vessel walls, resulting from
immune-mediated vascular injury with deposition of fibrin, immune complexes, and plasma proteins. It is
characteristic of malignant hypertension, vasculitis, and immune-mediated vascular damage.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 2
WALDEN UNIVERSITY
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology
Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY · Official Exam 2026/2027
100 80% CERTIFIED
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Genetic Disorders Q1-Q20
Section 2 Immunity, Inflammation & Infectious Processes Q21-Q40
Section 3 Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance Q41-Q60
Section 4 Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Q61-Q80
Section 5 Pulmonary Pathophysiology Q81-Q100
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for NURS 6501 Advanced
Pathophysiology midterm exam preparation. Passing score: 80% (80 questions correct).
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 2
, SECTION 1 | Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Genetic Disorders | Q1-Q20 | NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027
2026/2027 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
A 55-year-old man with chronic alcohol use disorder presents with an enlarged,
tender liver. Liver biopsy shows hepatocytes containing large lipid vacuoles
displacing the nucleus to the periphery. This morphologic change is best described
as which of the following?
A. Hydropic degeneration
B. Metaplasia
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Steatosis (fatty change)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Steatosis (fatty change) is the accumulation of lipid vacuoles within parenchymal cells, most commonly seen in
the liver due to alcohol toxicity, metabolic syndrome, or toxin exposure. Hydropic degeneration involves cellular
swelling from water accumulation, and coagulative necrosis involves protein denaturation with preservation of
tissue architecture.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
A 48-year-old woman with chronic reflux esophagitis has a biopsy showing
replacement of the normal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium
containing goblet cells. This adaptive cellular change is best classified as which of
the following?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Barrett esophagus represents metaplasia, a reversible change where one adult cell type (squamous) is
replaced by another (columnar with goblet cells) in response to chronic injury from acid reflux. This is an
adaptive response, unlike dysplasia which is disordered growth, or neoplasia which is new, uncontrolled
growth.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 2
, Q3 Question 3 of 100
A 62-year-old man suffers an acute myocardial infarction involving the left ventricle.
Five days later, the infarcted tissue shows preserved tissue architecture with loss of
nuclei and intense eosinophilic staining of the cytoplasm. This pattern of necrosis is
classified as which type?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Coagulative necrosis is characterized by preservation of tissue architecture with loss of cell nuclei and
eosinophilic cytoplasm, typically seen in ischemic injury to solid organs like the heart and kidney. Liquefactive
necrosis involves enzymatic tissue digestion with loss of architecture, as seen in the brain.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
A 35-year-old man develops a brain abscess. The center of the abscess contains
liquefied, necrotic material with complete loss of tissue architecture. This pattern of
necrosis is best classified as which type?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Fibrinoid necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Liquefactive necrosis is characterized by complete digestion of tissue with loss of architecture, forming a liquid
center, commonly seen in brain infarcts and bacterial abscesses where hydrolytic enzymes digest the tissue.
This differs from coagulative necrosis where architecture is preserved.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 2
, Q5 Question 5 of 100
A 40-year-old woman with a history of tuberculosis develops a lung granuloma with
a central area of amorphous, cheeselike material surrounded by epithelioid
macrophages. This type of necrosis is classified as which of the following?
A. Fibrinoid necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Caseous necrosis (cheeselike) is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis most commonly
associated with tuberculosis, where the necrotic center is amorphous and granular with complete loss of
architecture, surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory border.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
A 70-year-old man with severe atherosclerosis undergoes carotid endarterectomy.
Histologic examination of the plaque shows focal, pink, amorphous material within
the vessel wall that stains positively with eosin. This finding represents which type
of necrosis?
A. Caseous necrosis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Fibrinoid necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Fibrinoid necrosis appears as bright pink, amorphous material within vessel walls, resulting from
immune-mediated vascular injury with deposition of fibrin, immune complexes, and plasma proteins. It is
characteristic of malignant hypertension, vasculitis, and immune-mediated vascular damage.
NURS 6501 / NURS6501, Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm exam | LATEST 2026/2027 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 2
