Cellular Regulation & Degeneration/Immobility/Obesity

The nurse is providing care for a client who recently had a colon polyp removed. What information indicates the polyp is benign? Select all that apply.

• Examined cells resemble the cells of the tissue of origin

• Examined cells are lined up in an orderly fashion

• Examined cells have spread to the colon from other parts of the body

• Examined cells display contact inhibition

• Examined cells are poorly differentiated

Answer explanation

Benign cells resemble normal cells, have well-defined borders, do not metastasize, and display contact inhibition (stop growing when they touch another cell).

Malignant cells look different than their tissue of origin, are misshapen, grow on top of each other, have poorly defined borders, and will metastasize (move to another location).

The nurse is preparing education on ribosomes. Which statement should the nurse include?

• "Ribosomes are the protein factories of the cell."

• "Hypoxia causes increased protein synthesis."

• "Ribosomes are housed in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum."

• "During DNA replication, transcription occurs in the ribosomes."

Answer explanation

Ribosomes are the protein factories. They are housed in the ROUGH (not smooth) endoplasmic reticulum inside a cell. Hypoxia DECREASES protein synthesis - we need that oxygen for lots of cell activities! TransLATION (not tranSCRIPTION) occurs in the ribosomes. Transcription occurs in the nucleus.

The nurse is caring for a client with paraplegia after a spinal cord injury. The muscle cells in the client's legs are smaller in size than normal. Which term best describes the condition of the cells?

• Dysplasia

• Malignant

• Neoplasia

• Atrophy

Answer explanation

Atrophy is an adaptive change by the cells - they revert to amaller size due to reducion in metabolic demand.

Dysplasia is deranged cellular growth, and occurs with neoplasia (new growth) and malignant cells.

The nurse is explaining causes of cellular injury to a community group. Which agent(s) should the nurse include that can contribute to cellular necrosis and infarction? Select all that apply.

• Hypoxia

• Genetic defects

• Obesity

• Lacerations

• Bacteria

Answer explanation

Many things can cause cellular injury. Prolonged exposure to the injurious agent can result in infarction and necrosis (unplanned cell death).

Hypoxia - lack of oxygen - is one of the main ways our cells are damaged.

Genetic defects - if our DNA is altered, the cell is damaged

Obesity - nutritional imbalances cause cellular injury

Lacerations - physical agent - disrupts plasma membrane

Bacteria - infectious agent

The nurse is preparing a presentation for older adult clients regarding the effects of physical inactivity. Which physiological effect of immobility is most harmful to this group of clients?

• Increases constipation

• Decreases peristaltic movement

• Increases the risk of diverticulosis

• Increases the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Answer explanation

Peristaltic movement is the involuntary contraction of smooth GI muscles that cause food to move through the digestive tract. Immobility decreases peristaltic movement, which in turn increases constipation, increases the risk for diverticulosis, and increases the risk for IBD.

The nurse is reviewing the pathophysiology of obesity and adipokines. The nurse is aware that some adipokineas are "good" and others are "bad". Which function(s) related to "good" adipokines should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

• Protect against arteriosclerosis

• Act as major vasoconstrictors

• Promote the process of lipolysis

• Enhance cellular sensitivity to insulin

• Reduce triglyceride levels

Answer explanation

Adiponectin and leptin are good adipokines. Adiponectin is a plasma protein that protects against the formation of arteriosclerosis. Leptin and adiponectin togheter also enhance cellular sensitivity to insuline nad reduce triglyceride levels to inhibit fat accumulation.

Bad adipokines increase vasoconstriction (which ultimately leads to hypertension) and promote lipolysis (which will cause the formation of free fatty acids which have negative effets on the body).