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PORTAGE LEARNING BIOD 331 | NURS 231
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION PRACTICE TEST
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
2027 UPDATE – MODULES 1-10 JUST RELEASED
PART 1: CELLULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND ADAPTATION
Question 1
The reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated
cell type by another. It is an adaptive response to chronic irritation or
inflammation. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size, and hyperplasia is an increase in cell number
[citation:2,6].
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Question 2
A patient with chronic acid reflux develops replacement of the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus with columnar epithelium. This
cellular adaptation is known as:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Neoplasia
D) Atrophy
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: The replacement of squamous epithelium with columnar
epithelium in the esophagus (Barrett esophagus) is a classic example of
metaplasia. This occurs as an adaptive response to chronic acid
exposure. Dysplasia involves disordered cell growth, neoplasia is new
growth, and atrophy is shrinkage [citation:2,6].
Question 3
An increase in the size of individual cells, leading to organ enlargement,
is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: B
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Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells. This is
commonly seen in cardiac muscle cells in response to hypertension.
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, and metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another
[citation:1,6].
Question 4
An increase in the number of cells, leading to organ enlargement, is
called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It can be
physiologic (breast enlargement during pregnancy) or pathologic
(endometrial hyperplasia). Atrophy is a decrease in cell size,
hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, and metaplasia is replacement of
one cell type by another [citation:1,6].
Question 5
Programmed cell death is called:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autolysis
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D) Gangrene
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, a normal physiologic
process that eliminates unwanted cells without causing inflammation.
Necrosis is unplanned cell death due to injury. Autolysis is self-digestion
by cellular enzymes, and gangrene is necrosis with putrefaction
[citation:2,6].
Question 6
Which type of necrosis is characterized by the formation of a cheese-like
material and is associated with tuberculosis?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is characterized by a cheese-like appearance
and is classically associated with tuberculosis. Coagulative necrosis
occurs in ischemic injury, liquefactive necrosis in the brain and
abscesses, and fat necrosis in adipose tissue [citation:2,10].
Question 7
Coagulative necrosis is most commonly caused by:
PORTAGE LEARNING BIOD 331 | NURS 231
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION PRACTICE TEST
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
2027 UPDATE – MODULES 1-10 JUST RELEASED
PART 1: CELLULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND ADAPTATION
Question 1
The reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated
cell type by another. It is an adaptive response to chronic irritation or
inflammation. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size, and hyperplasia is an increase in cell number
[citation:2,6].
,2 | Page
Question 2
A patient with chronic acid reflux develops replacement of the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus with columnar epithelium. This
cellular adaptation is known as:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Neoplasia
D) Atrophy
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: The replacement of squamous epithelium with columnar
epithelium in the esophagus (Barrett esophagus) is a classic example of
metaplasia. This occurs as an adaptive response to chronic acid
exposure. Dysplasia involves disordered cell growth, neoplasia is new
growth, and atrophy is shrinkage [citation:2,6].
Question 3
An increase in the size of individual cells, leading to organ enlargement,
is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: B
,3 | Page
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells. This is
commonly seen in cardiac muscle cells in response to hypertension.
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, and metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another
[citation:1,6].
Question 4
An increase in the number of cells, leading to organ enlargement, is
called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It can be
physiologic (breast enlargement during pregnancy) or pathologic
(endometrial hyperplasia). Atrophy is a decrease in cell size,
hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, and metaplasia is replacement of
one cell type by another [citation:1,6].
Question 5
Programmed cell death is called:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autolysis
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D) Gangrene
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, a normal physiologic
process that eliminates unwanted cells without causing inflammation.
Necrosis is unplanned cell death due to injury. Autolysis is self-digestion
by cellular enzymes, and gangrene is necrosis with putrefaction
[citation:2,6].
Question 6
Which type of necrosis is characterized by the formation of a cheese-like
material and is associated with tuberculosis?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is characterized by a cheese-like appearance
and is classically associated with tuberculosis. Coagulative necrosis
occurs in ischemic injury, liquefactive necrosis in the brain and
abscesses, and fat necrosis in adipose tissue [citation:2,10].
Question 7
Coagulative necrosis is most commonly caused by:
