Pathophysiology Week 3 Practice Quiz 2026 |WGU
1. A patient’s biopsy reveals a decrease in the size of the cells in the left leg due
to prolonged casting. Which term describes this cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease or shrinkage in cellular size, often caused by disuse,
denervation, or decreased blood flow.
2. An increase in the number of cells in the female breast during pregnancy is an
example of which process?
A. Hormonal hyperplasia
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Compensatory atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Hormonal hyperplasia occurs in estrogen-dependent organs, such as the uterus
and breast, to allow for functional growth.
,3. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by the replacement of one mature
cell type by another, less mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell by another, such as
the change in bronchial lining due to smoking.
4. Dysplasia is best described as which of the following?
A. A normal adaptive process
B. Deranged cellular growth with abnormal size and shape
C. A decrease in cell number
D. The complete death of a tissue layer
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells, often considered pre-cancerous.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Chemical agents
B. Hypoxia
C. Free radicals
D. Genetic factors
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular
injury, often resulting from ischemia.
, 6. Which mechanism occurs during reperfusion injury?
A. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
B. Massive release of antioxidants
C. Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D. Restoration of normal mitochondrial pH
Answer: A
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is restored to ischemic tissue, leading
to the formation of harmful free radicals/ROS.
7. Which type of necrosis is typically found in the brain following ischemic
injury?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is common in the brain because brain cells are rich in
digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids.
8. Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with which infection?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Tuberculosis
C. Clostridium perfringens
D. Hepatitis B
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis, which looks like clumped cheese, results from tuberculous
pulmonary infection.
1. A patient’s biopsy reveals a decrease in the size of the cells in the left leg due
to prolonged casting. Which term describes this cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease or shrinkage in cellular size, often caused by disuse,
denervation, or decreased blood flow.
2. An increase in the number of cells in the female breast during pregnancy is an
example of which process?
A. Hormonal hyperplasia
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Compensatory atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Hormonal hyperplasia occurs in estrogen-dependent organs, such as the uterus
and breast, to allow for functional growth.
,3. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by the replacement of one mature
cell type by another, less mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell by another, such as
the change in bronchial lining due to smoking.
4. Dysplasia is best described as which of the following?
A. A normal adaptive process
B. Deranged cellular growth with abnormal size and shape
C. A decrease in cell number
D. The complete death of a tissue layer
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells, often considered pre-cancerous.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Chemical agents
B. Hypoxia
C. Free radicals
D. Genetic factors
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular
injury, often resulting from ischemia.
, 6. Which mechanism occurs during reperfusion injury?
A. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
B. Massive release of antioxidants
C. Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D. Restoration of normal mitochondrial pH
Answer: A
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is restored to ischemic tissue, leading
to the formation of harmful free radicals/ROS.
7. Which type of necrosis is typically found in the brain following ischemic
injury?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is common in the brain because brain cells are rich in
digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids.
8. Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with which infection?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Tuberculosis
C. Clostridium perfringens
D. Hepatitis B
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis, which looks like clumped cheese, results from tuberculous
pulmonary infection.
