ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY AND
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ESSENTIALS ACTUAL
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What stimulates the release of erythropoietin (EPO)? Answer:
Hypoxia.
●● What is the sequence of RBC development starting from
hematopoietic stem cells? Answer: Hematopoietic stem cell → Myeloid
progenitor → Proerythroblast → Reticulocyte → Mature erythrocyte.
●● What are the requirements for erythropoiesis? Answer: Iron for
hemoglobin synthesis, Vitamin B12 and Folate for DNA synthesis, and
EPO for proliferation signal.
●● What does a high reticulocyte count indicate? Answer: Hemolysis or
blood loss.
●● What does a low reticulocyte count indicate? Answer: Bone marrow
suppression or deficiency.
●● What is the classification of anemia based on MCV? Answer: <80 =
microcytic, 80-100 = normocytic, >100 = macrocytic.
,●● What are common causes of microcytic anemia? Answer: Iron
deficiency, Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease (late).
●● What are common causes of macrocytic anemia? Answer: Vitamin
B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency, Alcohol use, Liver disease.
●● What is Polycythemia Vera? Answer: A myeloproliferative neoplasm
caused by JAK2 mutation leading to autonomous RBC production.
●● What are the symptoms of Polycythemia Vera? Answer: Headache,
dizziness, pruritus (especially after warm showers), splenomegaly.
●● What is the role of Vitamin B12 in the body? Answer: DNA
synthesis and myelin formation.
●● What are the neurologic signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency? Answer:
Paresthesia, loss of vibration sense, ataxia.
●● What is the mechanism of Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)?
Answer: Inflammation leads to increased IL-6, which increases
Hepcidin, blocking iron release from macrophages.
, ●● What are Reed-Sternberg cells? Answer: Large, bilobed 'owl-eye'
cells seen in Hodgkin lymphoma, which are malignant B cells.
●● What causes Sickle Cell Crisis? Answer: A mutation in the beta-
globin gene leading to HbS polymerization under hypoxia.
●● What are the complications of Sickle Cell Crisis? Answer: Stroke,
organ infarction, infection (functional asplenia).
●● What differentiates Aplastic Anemia from Myelodysplastic
Syndrome (MDS)? Answer: Aplastic Anemia has hypocellular marrow
with no abnormal cells, while MDS has hypercellular marrow with
dysplastic cells.
●● What is a proto-oncogene? Answer: A normal growth-promoting
gene that can become an oncogene through mutation, leading to
uncontrolled proliferation.
●● What is the function of Growth Hormone (GH)? Answer: Stimulates
the liver to produce IGF-1.
●● What are the lab findings in SIADH? Answer: Low serum sodium,
low serum osmolality, high urine osmolality, euvolemic hyponatremia.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ESSENTIALS ACTUAL
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What stimulates the release of erythropoietin (EPO)? Answer:
Hypoxia.
●● What is the sequence of RBC development starting from
hematopoietic stem cells? Answer: Hematopoietic stem cell → Myeloid
progenitor → Proerythroblast → Reticulocyte → Mature erythrocyte.
●● What are the requirements for erythropoiesis? Answer: Iron for
hemoglobin synthesis, Vitamin B12 and Folate for DNA synthesis, and
EPO for proliferation signal.
●● What does a high reticulocyte count indicate? Answer: Hemolysis or
blood loss.
●● What does a low reticulocyte count indicate? Answer: Bone marrow
suppression or deficiency.
●● What is the classification of anemia based on MCV? Answer: <80 =
microcytic, 80-100 = normocytic, >100 = macrocytic.
,●● What are common causes of microcytic anemia? Answer: Iron
deficiency, Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease (late).
●● What are common causes of macrocytic anemia? Answer: Vitamin
B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency, Alcohol use, Liver disease.
●● What is Polycythemia Vera? Answer: A myeloproliferative neoplasm
caused by JAK2 mutation leading to autonomous RBC production.
●● What are the symptoms of Polycythemia Vera? Answer: Headache,
dizziness, pruritus (especially after warm showers), splenomegaly.
●● What is the role of Vitamin B12 in the body? Answer: DNA
synthesis and myelin formation.
●● What are the neurologic signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency? Answer:
Paresthesia, loss of vibration sense, ataxia.
●● What is the mechanism of Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)?
Answer: Inflammation leads to increased IL-6, which increases
Hepcidin, blocking iron release from macrophages.
, ●● What are Reed-Sternberg cells? Answer: Large, bilobed 'owl-eye'
cells seen in Hodgkin lymphoma, which are malignant B cells.
●● What causes Sickle Cell Crisis? Answer: A mutation in the beta-
globin gene leading to HbS polymerization under hypoxia.
●● What are the complications of Sickle Cell Crisis? Answer: Stroke,
organ infarction, infection (functional asplenia).
●● What differentiates Aplastic Anemia from Myelodysplastic
Syndrome (MDS)? Answer: Aplastic Anemia has hypocellular marrow
with no abnormal cells, while MDS has hypercellular marrow with
dysplastic cells.
●● What is a proto-oncogene? Answer: A normal growth-promoting
gene that can become an oncogene through mutation, leading to
uncontrolled proliferation.
●● What is the function of Growth Hormone (GH)? Answer: Stimulates
the liver to produce IGF-1.
●● What are the lab findings in SIADH? Answer: Low serum sodium,
low serum osmolality, high urine osmolality, euvolemic hyponatremia.
