PATHOLOGY
FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS
LATEST
UPDATE A+
PATHOLOGY
BOARD
EXAMINATION
1
,Instructions: choose the best answer.
1. A 50-year old man has blood pressure of 150/90 mm hg. If this person remains untreated
for years, which of the following cellular alterations will be seen in the myocardium?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasi
a a n s w e r: c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.7
2. On day 28 of her menstrual cycle, a 26-year old woman experiences menstrual
bleeding which lasts for 5 days. She has had regular cycles for many years. Which of
the following processes is most likely occurring in the endometrium just before onset
of bleeding?
A. Apoptosis
B. Heterophagocytosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Hyperplasi
a answe r: a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.26-27
3. At autopsy, a 60-year old man has an enlarged (2500 g) liver with yellow cut surface.
Before death, his total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were normal, but he had
decreased serum albumin concentration and prolonged prothrombin time. Which of the
following activities most likely lead to these findings?
A. Playing golf
B. Cigarette smoking
C. Drinking gin
D. Aspirin
ingestion a n s w e r :
c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.35-36
4. A 70-year old woman suddenly lost consciousness and on awakening one hour later,
she could not speak nor move her right arm and leg. Two months later, a head mri
showed a large cystic area in the left parietal lobe. Which of the following pathologic
processes has most likely occurred in the brain?
A. Karyolysis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Liquefactive
necrosis a n s w e r : d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.22
6. A 21-year old woman complains of pain during menses (dysmenorrhea). To treat
this symptom, she was advised to take indomethacin. This drug may help reduce
her pain because it interferes with the production of which one of the following
substances?
A. Bradykinin
B. Histamine
C. Leukotrienes
D. Estroge
n answe r:
a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.65
7. What type of leukocyte actively participates in acute inflammatory processes and
contains myeloperoxidase within its primary (azurophilic) granules and alkaline
phosphates in its secondary (specific) granules?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocyte
s answe r: b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.73
8. A 3-year old child touches a lit candle. Within several hours, there is marked erythema of
2
, the skin of the fingers on the child’s left hand, and small blisters appear on the finger
pads. Which of the following terms best describe the process?
A. Fibrinous inflammation
B. Ulceration
C. Abscess formation
D. Serous
inflammation a n s w e r :
d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.76
9. A woman who is allergic to cats visits a friend who keeps several pet cats. During the
visit, she inhales cat dander and within minutes, she develops nasal congestion and
abundant nasal secretions. Which of the following substances is most likely to produce
these findings?
A. Tumor necrosis factor
B. Bradykinin
C. Histamine
D. Complement
c5a a n s w e r : c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.63
10. After receiving incompatible blood, a patient develops a transfusion reaction in the
form of back pain, fever, shortness of breath and hematuria. Which of the following
statements best classifies this type of immunologic reaction?
A. Systemic anaphylactic reaction
B. Complement-mediated cytotoxicity reaction
C. Systemic immune complex reaction
D. Delayed type hypersensitivity
reaction a n s w e r : b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.210
12. A patient presents with a large wound on the left leg as a result of a vehicular
accident. Initially his wound is filled with granulation tissue, which is composed of
proliferating fibroblasts and new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Which of the
following is a growth factor that is capable of inducing all the steps necessary for
angiogenesis?
A. Vascular endothelial growth factor
B. Platelet-derived growth factor
C. Epidermal growth factor
D. Transforming growth
factor a n s w e r : a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.95
13. A 16-year old patient has lacerations on his hand which required sutures. The
sutures were removed after 10 days. Wound healing continued but the site was
disfigured by a prominent, raised nodular scar which developed over the next 2
months. Which of the following terms best describes the process that occurred
within this 2-month period?
A. Organization
B. Resolution
C. Keloid formation
D. Dehiscence
answe r: c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.114
14. A 17-year old woman receiving corticosteroid therapy for an autoimmune disease has
an abscess on her upper outer left arm. She undergoes a drainage procedure but the
wound heals poorly over the next month. Which of the following aspects of wound
healing is most likely to be deficient in this patient?
A. Neutrophil infiltration
B. Collagen deposition
C. Re-epithelialization
D. Fibroblast
elaboration a n s w e r : b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.114
15. Which of the following changes best describes the pathophysiology involved in
the production of pulmonary edema in patients with congestive heart failure?
A. Widespread endothelial damage
3
, B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Acute lymphatic obstruction
D. Increased hydrostatic
pressure a n s w e r : d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.122
16. A 23-year old medical student develops a “red” face after being asked a question
during a lecture. Which of the following statements best describes the vascular
reaction?
A. Active hyperemia
B. Petechial hemorrhage
C. Allergic reaction
D. Passive
congestion a n s w e r :
a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.122
17. While preparing her lunch, a housewife nicks her finger with a knife. Seconds after
the injury, the bleeding stops. Which of the following mechanisms is most likely to
reduce blood loss from a small dermal arteriole?
A. Protein c activation
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Neutrophil chemotaxis
D. Platelet
aggregation a n s w e r :
b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.124
18. A 26-year old rock climber fractures his left femur after falling from a height of 20
meters. He was hospitalized and over the next several days develops progressive
respiratory problems. He died three days later. At the time of autopsy, oil red-o
positive material is seen in the small blood vessels of the lungs and brain. Which of
the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Air emboli
B. Padoxical emboli
C. Fat emboli
D. Saddle
emboli a n s w e r :
c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.136
19. A 23 –year old who had a myocardial infarction 1 year a year ago now has chest pain
when exercising. His underlying disease is due to an absence of ldl receptors on liver
cells, inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. Which of the following laboratory
findings is most likely to be present in this patient?
A. Ketonuria
B. Hypercholesterolemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Abetalipoprotenemi
a answe r: b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.156
20. A 20-year old woman of average intelligence and short stature is being evaluated for
primary amenorrhea. Physical examination reveals a shield-shaped chest and her
elbows turn outward when her arms are at her sides. She has a “thick neck” and you
notice the absence of secondary female sex characteristics. Serum estrogen levels are
found to be decreased, while fsh and lh levels are increased. Which of the following
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Turner’s syndrome
B. Fragile x syndrome
C. Klinefelter’s syndrome
D. Xyy
syndrome
answe r: a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.179
23. A 26-year old woman presents with increasing fatigue, arthritis, shortness of breath,
and a bimalar, photosensitive erythematous rash. Biopsies from this rash reveal
liquefactive degeneration of the basal layer of the epidermis with a perivascular
4
FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS
LATEST
UPDATE A+
PATHOLOGY
BOARD
EXAMINATION
1
,Instructions: choose the best answer.
1. A 50-year old man has blood pressure of 150/90 mm hg. If this person remains untreated
for years, which of the following cellular alterations will be seen in the myocardium?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasi
a a n s w e r: c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.7
2. On day 28 of her menstrual cycle, a 26-year old woman experiences menstrual
bleeding which lasts for 5 days. She has had regular cycles for many years. Which of
the following processes is most likely occurring in the endometrium just before onset
of bleeding?
A. Apoptosis
B. Heterophagocytosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Hyperplasi
a answe r: a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.26-27
3. At autopsy, a 60-year old man has an enlarged (2500 g) liver with yellow cut surface.
Before death, his total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were normal, but he had
decreased serum albumin concentration and prolonged prothrombin time. Which of the
following activities most likely lead to these findings?
A. Playing golf
B. Cigarette smoking
C. Drinking gin
D. Aspirin
ingestion a n s w e r :
c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.35-36
4. A 70-year old woman suddenly lost consciousness and on awakening one hour later,
she could not speak nor move her right arm and leg. Two months later, a head mri
showed a large cystic area in the left parietal lobe. Which of the following pathologic
processes has most likely occurred in the brain?
A. Karyolysis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Liquefactive
necrosis a n s w e r : d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.22
6. A 21-year old woman complains of pain during menses (dysmenorrhea). To treat
this symptom, she was advised to take indomethacin. This drug may help reduce
her pain because it interferes with the production of which one of the following
substances?
A. Bradykinin
B. Histamine
C. Leukotrienes
D. Estroge
n answe r:
a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.65
7. What type of leukocyte actively participates in acute inflammatory processes and
contains myeloperoxidase within its primary (azurophilic) granules and alkaline
phosphates in its secondary (specific) granules?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocyte
s answe r: b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.73
8. A 3-year old child touches a lit candle. Within several hours, there is marked erythema of
2
, the skin of the fingers on the child’s left hand, and small blisters appear on the finger
pads. Which of the following terms best describe the process?
A. Fibrinous inflammation
B. Ulceration
C. Abscess formation
D. Serous
inflammation a n s w e r :
d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.76
9. A woman who is allergic to cats visits a friend who keeps several pet cats. During the
visit, she inhales cat dander and within minutes, she develops nasal congestion and
abundant nasal secretions. Which of the following substances is most likely to produce
these findings?
A. Tumor necrosis factor
B. Bradykinin
C. Histamine
D. Complement
c5a a n s w e r : c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.63
10. After receiving incompatible blood, a patient develops a transfusion reaction in the
form of back pain, fever, shortness of breath and hematuria. Which of the following
statements best classifies this type of immunologic reaction?
A. Systemic anaphylactic reaction
B. Complement-mediated cytotoxicity reaction
C. Systemic immune complex reaction
D. Delayed type hypersensitivity
reaction a n s w e r : b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.210
12. A patient presents with a large wound on the left leg as a result of a vehicular
accident. Initially his wound is filled with granulation tissue, which is composed of
proliferating fibroblasts and new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Which of the
following is a growth factor that is capable of inducing all the steps necessary for
angiogenesis?
A. Vascular endothelial growth factor
B. Platelet-derived growth factor
C. Epidermal growth factor
D. Transforming growth
factor a n s w e r : a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.95
13. A 16-year old patient has lacerations on his hand which required sutures. The
sutures were removed after 10 days. Wound healing continued but the site was
disfigured by a prominent, raised nodular scar which developed over the next 2
months. Which of the following terms best describes the process that occurred
within this 2-month period?
A. Organization
B. Resolution
C. Keloid formation
D. Dehiscence
answe r: c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.114
14. A 17-year old woman receiving corticosteroid therapy for an autoimmune disease has
an abscess on her upper outer left arm. She undergoes a drainage procedure but the
wound heals poorly over the next month. Which of the following aspects of wound
healing is most likely to be deficient in this patient?
A. Neutrophil infiltration
B. Collagen deposition
C. Re-epithelialization
D. Fibroblast
elaboration a n s w e r : b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.114
15. Which of the following changes best describes the pathophysiology involved in
the production of pulmonary edema in patients with congestive heart failure?
A. Widespread endothelial damage
3
, B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Acute lymphatic obstruction
D. Increased hydrostatic
pressure a n s w e r : d
Reference: rpbd 7th p.122
16. A 23-year old medical student develops a “red” face after being asked a question
during a lecture. Which of the following statements best describes the vascular
reaction?
A. Active hyperemia
B. Petechial hemorrhage
C. Allergic reaction
D. Passive
congestion a n s w e r :
a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.122
17. While preparing her lunch, a housewife nicks her finger with a knife. Seconds after
the injury, the bleeding stops. Which of the following mechanisms is most likely to
reduce blood loss from a small dermal arteriole?
A. Protein c activation
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Neutrophil chemotaxis
D. Platelet
aggregation a n s w e r :
b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.124
18. A 26-year old rock climber fractures his left femur after falling from a height of 20
meters. He was hospitalized and over the next several days develops progressive
respiratory problems. He died three days later. At the time of autopsy, oil red-o
positive material is seen in the small blood vessels of the lungs and brain. Which of
the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Air emboli
B. Padoxical emboli
C. Fat emboli
D. Saddle
emboli a n s w e r :
c
Reference: rpbd 7th p.136
19. A 23 –year old who had a myocardial infarction 1 year a year ago now has chest pain
when exercising. His underlying disease is due to an absence of ldl receptors on liver
cells, inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. Which of the following laboratory
findings is most likely to be present in this patient?
A. Ketonuria
B. Hypercholesterolemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Abetalipoprotenemi
a answe r: b
Reference: rpbd 7th p.156
20. A 20-year old woman of average intelligence and short stature is being evaluated for
primary amenorrhea. Physical examination reveals a shield-shaped chest and her
elbows turn outward when her arms are at her sides. She has a “thick neck” and you
notice the absence of secondary female sex characteristics. Serum estrogen levels are
found to be decreased, while fsh and lh levels are increased. Which of the following
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Turner’s syndrome
B. Fragile x syndrome
C. Klinefelter’s syndrome
D. Xyy
syndrome
answe r: a
Reference: rpbd 7th p.179
23. A 26-year old woman presents with increasing fatigue, arthritis, shortness of breath,
and a bimalar, photosensitive erythematous rash. Biopsies from this rash reveal
liquefactive degeneration of the basal layer of the epidermis with a perivascular
4
