NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam
Questions with 100% Verified Correct Answers
2024/2025
Ovarian cancer site of metastasis? - Correct Answer Peritoneal surfaces, omentum (fold of
peritoneum connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs), *liver*
The increased NADH/NAD+ ratio in the liver from ethanol causes: - Correct Answer 1. Pyruvate -->
lactic acid, causing lactic acidosis
2. Oxaloacetate --> malate. This prevents gluconeogenesis and leads to hypoglycemia
3. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate --> glycerol 3- phosphate and combines with fatty acids to form
triglycerides in the liver, known as hepatosteatosis
4. Decreases citric acid cycle production of NADH and leads to using Acetyl-CoA for ketogenesis and
lipogenesis
What can Reactive Oxygen Species cause? - Correct Answer Heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM, ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA. Lipid
perioxidation, damage proteins, fragment DNA, less *protein synthesis*, chromatin destruction,
damage mitochondria
What is the body's defense against ROS? - Correct Answer Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C,
cysteine, glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
How are free radicals produced? - Correct Answer 1. Normal cellular respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
action potential - Correct Answer Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the neuron --> the
neuron depolarizes --> then repolarizes
Threshold potential - Correct Answer Point at which depolarization must reach in order to initiate an
action potential
, Hypokalemia and action potentials - Correct Answer HYPERpolarized (more negative, ex. -100). Less
excitable. Decreased neuromuscular excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia,
cardiac dysrhythmias
Hyperkalemia and action potentials - Correct Answer HYPOpolarized (more positive, ex: closer to 0).
More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD = cardiac standstill, paresthesia,
paralysis
Hypocalcemia and action potentials - Correct Answer Increased permeability to Na+. More excitable.
Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia and action potentials - Correct Answer Decreased permeability to Na+. Less excitable.
Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
Atrophy - Correct Answer Occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it has
now compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient supply, hormonal supply, and
has achieved new homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and may lead to cellular
death.
Atrophy examples - Correct Answer Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus gland during
childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
Hypertrophy - Correct Answer Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase in size of organ.
Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
Hypertrophy examples - Correct Answer physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal hypertrophy when a
person does heavy work or weight lifting / when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney
increases in size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased workload in hypertensive patients /
*left ventricular hypertrophy*
Hyperplasia - Correct Answer Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from increased rate of mitosis.
Can ONLY happen in cells that are capable of mitosis (cell division).
