Robbins Pathology
Comprehensive Test Bank
Exam Prep 2026
Questions And Answers | Comprehensive Review
| Detailed Rationales | Latest 2026 Instant Pdf
Download | Graded A+
This exam is based on Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of
Disease (current edition). Questions cover general pathology,
mechanisms of disease, systemic pathology, and high-yield
concepts for board preparation.
,Section 1: Cell Injury, Adaptation, and Death (Questions 1–
15)
1. A 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension dies
suddenly. Autopsy shows left ventricular hypertrophy. The
increase in myocardial fiber size is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased workload (pressure overload). Cardiomyocytes have
limited replicative capacity, so they undergo hypertrophy, not
hyperplasia.
2. A biopsy of a liver shows enlarged hepatocytes with fine
cytoplasmic vacuolization. The patient has a history of
alcohol abuse. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Hydropic change
B. Fatty change (steatosis)
C. Glycogen accumulation
D. Apoptosis
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol abuse impairs fatty acid oxidation and
increases triglyceride synthesis, leading to macrovesicular
steatosis (fatty change) in hepatocytes.
3. A patient with a myocardial infarction has an area of
coagulative necrosis. Which microscopic finding would be
expected after 4 days?
A. Loss of nuclei with preserved cell outlines
B. Liquefactive necrosis with cystic cavity
C. Caseous necrosis with granulomas
D. Fat necrosis with saponification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture
(cell outlines) but nuclei are lost. Liquefactive necrosis occurs in
brain. Caseous in TB. Fat in pancreas.
4. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of
apoptosis?
A. Inflammation
B. Cell swelling and lysis
C. Formation of apoptotic bodies with intact membranes
D. Random DNA fragmentation
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death with cell
shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of membrane-
bound apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed without
inflammation.
5. A 45-year-old smoker has a bronchial biopsy showing
replacement of normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium by stratified squamous epithelium. This change
is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change from one
differentiated cell type to another (e.g., squamous metaplasia in
smokers’ airways). It is an adaptive response but predisposes to
dysplasia/cancer.
6. A patient with chronic ischemia of the lower leg develops
muscle atrophy. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Decreased protein synthesis
Comprehensive Test Bank
Exam Prep 2026
Questions And Answers | Comprehensive Review
| Detailed Rationales | Latest 2026 Instant Pdf
Download | Graded A+
This exam is based on Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of
Disease (current edition). Questions cover general pathology,
mechanisms of disease, systemic pathology, and high-yield
concepts for board preparation.
,Section 1: Cell Injury, Adaptation, and Death (Questions 1–
15)
1. A 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension dies
suddenly. Autopsy shows left ventricular hypertrophy. The
increase in myocardial fiber size is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased workload (pressure overload). Cardiomyocytes have
limited replicative capacity, so they undergo hypertrophy, not
hyperplasia.
2. A biopsy of a liver shows enlarged hepatocytes with fine
cytoplasmic vacuolization. The patient has a history of
alcohol abuse. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Hydropic change
B. Fatty change (steatosis)
C. Glycogen accumulation
D. Apoptosis
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol abuse impairs fatty acid oxidation and
increases triglyceride synthesis, leading to macrovesicular
steatosis (fatty change) in hepatocytes.
3. A patient with a myocardial infarction has an area of
coagulative necrosis. Which microscopic finding would be
expected after 4 days?
A. Loss of nuclei with preserved cell outlines
B. Liquefactive necrosis with cystic cavity
C. Caseous necrosis with granulomas
D. Fat necrosis with saponification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture
(cell outlines) but nuclei are lost. Liquefactive necrosis occurs in
brain. Caseous in TB. Fat in pancreas.
4. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of
apoptosis?
A. Inflammation
B. Cell swelling and lysis
C. Formation of apoptotic bodies with intact membranes
D. Random DNA fragmentation
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death with cell
shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of membrane-
bound apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed without
inflammation.
5. A 45-year-old smoker has a bronchial biopsy showing
replacement of normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium by stratified squamous epithelium. This change
is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change from one
differentiated cell type to another (e.g., squamous metaplasia in
smokers’ airways). It is an adaptive response but predisposes to
dysplasia/cancer.
6. A patient with chronic ischemia of the lower leg develops
muscle atrophy. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Decreased protein synthesis
