Latest 2026 Newest Questions and Answers (Latest
Update) (Verified Answers)
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & INJURY
1. What is the definition and cause of Atrophy?
• A) Increase in cell size due to increased workload
• B) Increase in cell number due to increased mitosis
• C) Decrease in cell size due to decreased workload, use, blood supply, or
nutrition
• D) Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C
Atrophy occurs as a result of decrease in work load, pressure, use, blood supply,
nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or nervous stimulation. Once the cell has
decreased in size, it has now compensated for decreased supply and achieved new
homeostasis. Cells are alive but have diminished function and may lead to cellular
death .
2. What is Hypertrophy?
• A) Increase in cell NUMBER
• B) Increase in cell SIZE
• C) Abnormal changes in cell shape and organization
• D) Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: B
,Hypertrophy is an increase in SIZE of cells, which leads to an increase in the size of
the organ. It is caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand.
An example of physiologic hypertrophy is skeletal hypertrophy in weightlifting.
Pathologic hypertrophy is cardiomegaly resulting from hypertension (left
ventricular hypertrophy) .
3. What is Hyperplasia?
• A) Increase in cell size
• B) Increase in cell number
• C) Decrease in cell size
• D) Abnormal changes in cell shape
Answer: B
Hyperplasia is an increase in the NUMBER of cells resulting from an increased rate
of mitosis. This can only happen in cells that are capable of mitosis. Examples
include compensatory hyperplasia (liver regeneration), hormonal hyperplasia
(estrogen-dependent organs), and pathologic hyperplasia (endometrial
hyperplasia leading to increased risk for endometrial cancer) .
4. What is Dysplasia?
• A) Increase in cell number
• B) Decrease in cell size
• C) Abnormal changes in size, shape, and organization of mature cells
• D) Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C
, Dysplasia (atypical hyperplasia) involves abnormal changes in the size, shape, and
organization of mature cells due to persistent, severe cell injury or irritation. It is
often a pre-cancerous condition, such as cervical dysplasia caused by HPV .
5. What is Metaplasia?
• A) Abnormal changes in cell size and shape
• B) A reversible change where one cell type is replaced by another
• C) Decrease in cell size
• D) Programmed cell death
Answer: B
Metaplasia is a reversible change where one mature cell type is replaced by
another in response to chronic stress. The most common example is the change
from columnar cells to squamous cells in chronic smokers. Less common is the
change from squamous to columnar cells, as seen in Barrett's esophagus caused
by heartburn .
SECTION 2: REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES & FREE RADICALS
6. What can Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) cause?
• A) Only localized cell damage
• B) Heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, CV disease, HTN, HLD, DM,
ischemic heart disease, HF, OSA
• C) Increased ATP production
• D) Enhanced protein synthesis
Answer: B
ROS can cause heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS), cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes