N212 Pathophysiology Exam 1 Study
Guide | Questions and Answers | 2026
Update | 100% Correct - Eastwick
College.
1. A patient with a major burn injury presents with black-colored sputum. What
does this most likely indicate?
A) Carbon monoxide poisoning
B) Inhalation injury with particulate matter
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Pneumonia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Black-colored sputum in a burn patient strongly suggests an inhalation injury
from exposure to smoke and soot particulates deposited in the airway. Carbon
monoxide poisoning presents with cherry-red skin and headache, not black sputum.
2. Which pathophysiological mechanism is MOST responsible for the development
of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A) Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C) Excessive glucagon production
D) Hepatic overproduction of glucose
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune
system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin resistance is
characteristic of type 2 diabetes.
3. A patient presents with metabolic acidosis (pH 7.25, HCO3 15 mEq/L). Which
compensation mechanism is expected?
A) Increased respiratory rate (Kussmaul respirations)
B) Decreased respiratory rate
C) Increased bicarbonate retention
D) Decreased tidal volume
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In metabolic acidosis, the body compensates by increasing the respiratory
rate and depth (Kussmaul respirations) to blow off CO2 and raise the pH. This is a fast-
acting compensatory mechanism.
4. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This
is an example of which cellular adaptive response?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to enlargement of an organ.
,The heart responds to increased workload (afterload from high blood pressure) by
increasing the size of myocardial cells.
5. A decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload, such as in an
immobilized limb, is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and number due to reduced workload, loss
of innervation, diminished blood supply, or inadequate nutrition. Disuse atrophy is
common in immobilized limbs.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops
Barrett's esophagus. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with
another. In Barrett's esophagus, the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by
columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid injury.
, 7. A patient with liver cirrhosis has jaundice due to accumulation of bilirubin. This
is an example of:
A) Cellular atrophy
B) Pathologic calcification
C) Intracellular accumulation
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bilirubin accumulation in hepatocytes, which spills into the blood when the
liver cannot conjugate or excrete it, is a form of intracellular accumulation leading to
jaundice.
8. Which of the following best describes coagulative necrosis?
A) Liquefaction of tissue due to bacterial infection
B) Preservation of cellular architecture with loss of nuclei, commonly seen in myocardial
infarction
C) Cheesy, granular appearance due to tuberculous infection
D) Fat necrosis with saponification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs from ischemic injury (except in the brain). The
cell outline remains visible for days because lysosomal enzymes are denatured,
commonly seen in myocardial infarctions.
Guide | Questions and Answers | 2026
Update | 100% Correct - Eastwick
College.
1. A patient with a major burn injury presents with black-colored sputum. What
does this most likely indicate?
A) Carbon monoxide poisoning
B) Inhalation injury with particulate matter
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Pneumonia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Black-colored sputum in a burn patient strongly suggests an inhalation injury
from exposure to smoke and soot particulates deposited in the airway. Carbon
monoxide poisoning presents with cherry-red skin and headache, not black sputum.
2. Which pathophysiological mechanism is MOST responsible for the development
of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A) Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C) Excessive glucagon production
D) Hepatic overproduction of glucose
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune
system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin resistance is
characteristic of type 2 diabetes.
3. A patient presents with metabolic acidosis (pH 7.25, HCO3 15 mEq/L). Which
compensation mechanism is expected?
A) Increased respiratory rate (Kussmaul respirations)
B) Decreased respiratory rate
C) Increased bicarbonate retention
D) Decreased tidal volume
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In metabolic acidosis, the body compensates by increasing the respiratory
rate and depth (Kussmaul respirations) to blow off CO2 and raise the pH. This is a fast-
acting compensatory mechanism.
4. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This
is an example of which cellular adaptive response?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to enlargement of an organ.
,The heart responds to increased workload (afterload from high blood pressure) by
increasing the size of myocardial cells.
5. A decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload, such as in an
immobilized limb, is called:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and number due to reduced workload, loss
of innervation, diminished blood supply, or inadequate nutrition. Disuse atrophy is
common in immobilized limbs.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops
Barrett's esophagus. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with
another. In Barrett's esophagus, the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by
columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid injury.
, 7. A patient with liver cirrhosis has jaundice due to accumulation of bilirubin. This
is an example of:
A) Cellular atrophy
B) Pathologic calcification
C) Intracellular accumulation
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bilirubin accumulation in hepatocytes, which spills into the blood when the
liver cannot conjugate or excrete it, is a form of intracellular accumulation leading to
jaundice.
8. Which of the following best describes coagulative necrosis?
A) Liquefaction of tissue due to bacterial infection
B) Preservation of cellular architecture with loss of nuclei, commonly seen in myocardial
infarction
C) Cheesy, granular appearance due to tuberculous infection
D) Fat necrosis with saponification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs from ischemic injury (except in the brain). The
cell outline remains visible for days because lysosomal enzymes are denatured,
commonly seen in myocardial infarctions.
