PORTAGE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (NURS 231 / BIOD 331) MODULES 1-10
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM LATEST
2026/2027 EDITION
Sections:
Module 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology and Cellular Adaptation
Module 2: Genetics, Neoplasia, and Cancer
Module 3: Inflammation and Immunity
Module 4: Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance
Module 5: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders
Module 6: Neurological Disorders
Module 7: Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Disorders
Module 8: Renal and Genitourinary Disorders
Module 9: Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Module 10: Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Multisystem Disorders
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CELLULAR ADAPTATION
Q1. What is the definition of pathophysiology?
A) The study of body structure
B) The study of the body's response to altered function or disease
C) The study of drug interactions
D) The study of normal body functions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of the body's response to altered function
or disease. Option A describes anatomy. Option C describes pharmacology.
Option D describes physiology. Pathophysiology bridges the gap between normal
physiology and disease states.
Q2. Which of the following is the study of body function?
A) Pathology
B) Physiology
C) Anatomy
D) Histology
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Physiology is the study of body function. Pathology is the study of
disease. Anatomy is the study of body structure. Histology is the study of tissues.
Q3. A pathologic or traumatic injury to an organ or tissue is called a:
A) Lesion
B) Neoplasm
C) Tumor
D) Cyst
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A lesion is a pathologic or traumatic injury to an organ or tissue. A
neoplasm or tumor is abnormal growth. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac.
Q4. True/False: A bodybuilder's muscles will display hyperplasia.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A bodybuilder's muscles display hypertrophy (increase in cell size), not
hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Skeletal muscle cells do not typically
undergo hyperplasia; they increase in size through hypertrophy.
Q5. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
2
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Q6. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell
number?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. Hypertrophy is an increase in
cell size. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Q7. The decrease in cell size is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is the decrease in cell size. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy are
increases. Metaplasia is a change in cell type.
Q8. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another is called:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
3
, C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another. Hyperplasia is increased cell number. Hypertrophy is increased cell size.
Atrophy is decreased cell size.
Q9. Which of the following is an example of physiologic hypertrophy?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy due to hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Skeletal muscle atrophy from disuse
D) Cervical metaplasia from chronic irritation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is physiologic hypertrophy (and
hyperplasia). Cardiac hypertrophy due to hypertension is pathologic. Skeletal
muscle atrophy from disuse is a decrease. Cervical metaplasia is a change in cell
type.
Q10. Which of the following is an example of pathologic hyperplasia?
A) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
B) Endometrial hyperplasia
C) Breast enlargement during lactation
D) Thickening of skin from callus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Endometrial hyperplasia is pathologic hyperplasia due to unopposed
estrogen. Uterine enlargement and breast enlargement during
4
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM LATEST
2026/2027 EDITION
Sections:
Module 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology and Cellular Adaptation
Module 2: Genetics, Neoplasia, and Cancer
Module 3: Inflammation and Immunity
Module 4: Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance
Module 5: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders
Module 6: Neurological Disorders
Module 7: Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Disorders
Module 8: Renal and Genitourinary Disorders
Module 9: Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Module 10: Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Multisystem Disorders
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CELLULAR ADAPTATION
Q1. What is the definition of pathophysiology?
A) The study of body structure
B) The study of the body's response to altered function or disease
C) The study of drug interactions
D) The study of normal body functions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of the body's response to altered function
or disease. Option A describes anatomy. Option C describes pharmacology.
Option D describes physiology. Pathophysiology bridges the gap between normal
physiology and disease states.
Q2. Which of the following is the study of body function?
A) Pathology
B) Physiology
C) Anatomy
D) Histology
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Physiology is the study of body function. Pathology is the study of
disease. Anatomy is the study of body structure. Histology is the study of tissues.
Q3. A pathologic or traumatic injury to an organ or tissue is called a:
A) Lesion
B) Neoplasm
C) Tumor
D) Cyst
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A lesion is a pathologic or traumatic injury to an organ or tissue. A
neoplasm or tumor is abnormal growth. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac.
Q4. True/False: A bodybuilder's muscles will display hyperplasia.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A bodybuilder's muscles display hypertrophy (increase in cell size), not
hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Skeletal muscle cells do not typically
undergo hyperplasia; they increase in size through hypertrophy.
Q5. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
2
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Q6. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell
number?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. Hypertrophy is an increase in
cell size. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Q7. The decrease in cell size is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is the decrease in cell size. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy are
increases. Metaplasia is a change in cell type.
Q8. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another is called:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
3
, C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another. Hyperplasia is increased cell number. Hypertrophy is increased cell size.
Atrophy is decreased cell size.
Q9. Which of the following is an example of physiologic hypertrophy?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy due to hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Skeletal muscle atrophy from disuse
D) Cervical metaplasia from chronic irritation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is physiologic hypertrophy (and
hyperplasia). Cardiac hypertrophy due to hypertension is pathologic. Skeletal
muscle atrophy from disuse is a decrease. Cervical metaplasia is a change in cell
type.
Q10. Which of the following is an example of pathologic hyperplasia?
A) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
B) Endometrial hyperplasia
C) Breast enlargement during lactation
D) Thickening of skin from callus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Endometrial hyperplasia is pathologic hyperplasia due to unopposed
estrogen. Uterine enlargement and breast enlargement during
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