Pysio-Patho Unit 1 Test Bank Questions
and Correct Answers Review on
Inflammatory and Immune Responses
(University of South Alabama)/ NU 545
Unit 1 Test Prep (New!
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY & INFLAMMATORY PROCESS
Question 1:
A patient has a myocardial infarction. The ischemic myocardial cells show swollen, pale
cytoplasm due to influx of sodium and water. What is this specific cellular injury called?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Hydropic swelling
D) Fatty change
Answer: C
Rationale: Hydropic swelling (cloudy swelling) is the first manifestation of almost all forms of
cellular injury. It occurs because ATP depletion causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump,
allowing sodium and water to rush into the cell. This is a reversible change if oxygen is restored .
Question 2:
In alcoholic liver disease, hepatocytes accumulate excess lipids. This type of cellular adaptation
is called:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Fatty change (steatosis)
,Answer: D
Rationale: Fatty change is the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within parenchymal cells.
Alcohol metabolism generates excess NADH, which promotes fatty acid synthesis and impairs
lipoprotein export, leading to lipid vacuole formation in hepatocytes .
Question 3:
Which cellular organelle is most susceptible to injury from ischemia due to its high calcium
concentration and lipid content?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Lysosome
D) Ribosome
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria are highly susceptible to ischemic injury. Ischemia causes calcium to
accumulate in the mitochondria, opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which
stops ATP production and ultimately leads to cell death .
Question 4:
When blood flow is restored to ischemic tissue, additional cellular damage can occur. What is
this phenomenon called?
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Reperfusion injury
D) Autophagy
Answer: C
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is reintroduced to ischemic tissue, generating
reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that cause further damage to cellular membranes,
proteins, and DNA. This paradoxical injury can be more damaging than the initial ischemic
event .
,Question 5:
Which type of necrosis is characterized by the formation of a cheese-like, soft, white
appearance and is commonly associated with tuberculosis?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a distinct form of necrosis associated with tuberculosis and
fungal infections, characterized by a cheese-like, soft, white appearance. The tissue architecture
is completely obliterated .
Question 6:
Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload
or blood supply?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload, decreased
blood supply, denervation, or malnutrition. It can be physiologic (e.g., thymus gland in
adulthood) or pathologic .
Question 7:
A patient has a serum sodium level of 165 mEq/L. The healthcare professional explains that
clinical manifestations of confusion, convulsions, cerebral hemorrhage, and coma are caused by
what mechanism?
A) Low sodium draws chloride into brain cells followed by water, causing brain cells to swell
B) High sodium in brain cells pulls water out of blood vessels into brain cells, causing them to
swell
C) High sodium in blood vessels pulls water out of brain cells, causing brain cells to shrink
D) Low sodium pulls potassium out of brain cells, which slows synapses
, Answer: C
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135-145 mEq/L, so 165 mEq/L is hypernatremia. High
sodium in blood vessels pulls water out of brain cells into blood vessels, causing brain cells to
shrink, leading to neurological symptoms .
Question 8:
A patient has a myocardial infarction, and the damaged cardiac tissue is replaced by fibrous scar
tissue. This process is called:
A) Regeneration
B) Resolution
C) Repair by fibrosis
D) Necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Repair by fibrosis occurs when damaged tissue cannot regenerate and is replaced by
connective tissue (scar). Cardiac muscle has limited regenerative capacity, so MI results in scar
formation .
Question 9:
Which type of cell injury results from the formation of abnormal protein aggregates within cells,
such as in Alzheimer's disease?
A) Hydropic swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Intracellular accumulations
D) Necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Intracellular accumulations can include abnormal proteins (e.g., amyloid plaques in
Alzheimer's), lipids, carbohydrates, or pigments. These aggregates can disrupt normal cellular
function and lead to cell death .
Question 10:
Which cellular adaptation involves the replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
and is often a response to chronic irritation?
and Correct Answers Review on
Inflammatory and Immune Responses
(University of South Alabama)/ NU 545
Unit 1 Test Prep (New!
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY & INFLAMMATORY PROCESS
Question 1:
A patient has a myocardial infarction. The ischemic myocardial cells show swollen, pale
cytoplasm due to influx of sodium and water. What is this specific cellular injury called?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Hydropic swelling
D) Fatty change
Answer: C
Rationale: Hydropic swelling (cloudy swelling) is the first manifestation of almost all forms of
cellular injury. It occurs because ATP depletion causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump,
allowing sodium and water to rush into the cell. This is a reversible change if oxygen is restored .
Question 2:
In alcoholic liver disease, hepatocytes accumulate excess lipids. This type of cellular adaptation
is called:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Fatty change (steatosis)
,Answer: D
Rationale: Fatty change is the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within parenchymal cells.
Alcohol metabolism generates excess NADH, which promotes fatty acid synthesis and impairs
lipoprotein export, leading to lipid vacuole formation in hepatocytes .
Question 3:
Which cellular organelle is most susceptible to injury from ischemia due to its high calcium
concentration and lipid content?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Lysosome
D) Ribosome
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria are highly susceptible to ischemic injury. Ischemia causes calcium to
accumulate in the mitochondria, opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which
stops ATP production and ultimately leads to cell death .
Question 4:
When blood flow is restored to ischemic tissue, additional cellular damage can occur. What is
this phenomenon called?
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Reperfusion injury
D) Autophagy
Answer: C
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is reintroduced to ischemic tissue, generating
reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that cause further damage to cellular membranes,
proteins, and DNA. This paradoxical injury can be more damaging than the initial ischemic
event .
,Question 5:
Which type of necrosis is characterized by the formation of a cheese-like, soft, white
appearance and is commonly associated with tuberculosis?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a distinct form of necrosis associated with tuberculosis and
fungal infections, characterized by a cheese-like, soft, white appearance. The tissue architecture
is completely obliterated .
Question 6:
Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload
or blood supply?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload, decreased
blood supply, denervation, or malnutrition. It can be physiologic (e.g., thymus gland in
adulthood) or pathologic .
Question 7:
A patient has a serum sodium level of 165 mEq/L. The healthcare professional explains that
clinical manifestations of confusion, convulsions, cerebral hemorrhage, and coma are caused by
what mechanism?
A) Low sodium draws chloride into brain cells followed by water, causing brain cells to swell
B) High sodium in brain cells pulls water out of blood vessels into brain cells, causing them to
swell
C) High sodium in blood vessels pulls water out of brain cells, causing brain cells to shrink
D) Low sodium pulls potassium out of brain cells, which slows synapses
, Answer: C
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135-145 mEq/L, so 165 mEq/L is hypernatremia. High
sodium in blood vessels pulls water out of brain cells into blood vessels, causing brain cells to
shrink, leading to neurological symptoms .
Question 8:
A patient has a myocardial infarction, and the damaged cardiac tissue is replaced by fibrous scar
tissue. This process is called:
A) Regeneration
B) Resolution
C) Repair by fibrosis
D) Necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Repair by fibrosis occurs when damaged tissue cannot regenerate and is replaced by
connective tissue (scar). Cardiac muscle has limited regenerative capacity, so MI results in scar
formation .
Question 9:
Which type of cell injury results from the formation of abnormal protein aggregates within cells,
such as in Alzheimer's disease?
A) Hydropic swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Intracellular accumulations
D) Necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Intracellular accumulations can include abnormal proteins (e.g., amyloid plaques in
Alzheimer's), lipids, carbohydrates, or pigments. These aggregates can disrupt normal cellular
function and lead to cell death .
Question 10:
Which cellular adaptation involves the replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
and is often a response to chronic irritation?
