,WGU D236 Pathophysiology OA V2 | 3 Set
Exams | 2026 Edition (PDF)
**1. A patient with long-standing uncontrolled hypertension develops an enlarged left ventricle on
echocardiogram. Which cellular adaptation explains this finding?**
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload from hypertension increases myocyte size (cardiac cells cannot
divide), enlarging the ventricle. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, and metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another.
**2. A chronic smoker's esophageal biopsy shows columnar epithelium replacing normal squamous
epithelium (Barrett esophagus). This change is best described as:**
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible substitution of a stress-tolerant cell type (columnar) for squamous
epithelium under acid injury. Dysplasia is disordered pre-malignant growth, hyperplasia is increased
number of the same cell type, and anaplasia is lack of differentiation characteristic of malignancy.
**3. Which finding indicates REVERSIBLE cell injury rather than necrosis?**
,A) Karyolysis
B) Pyknosis
C) Cellular swelling
D) Karyorrhexis
Correct Answer: Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) from ATP depletion and Na+/K+ pump failure is reversible
if the insult resolves. Karyolysis, pyknosis, and karyorrhexis are all nuclear changes associated with
irreversible injury and necrosis.
**4. A pathologist examines brain tissue that has been replaced by a cavity filled with debris and
inflammatory cells. This is most consistent with which type of necrosis?**
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: Liquefactive necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the central nervous system (brain) and occurs when
cellular enzymes and inflammatory cells liquefy dead tissue, forming a cystic cavity. Coagulative necrosis
preserves tissue architecture (seen in ischemia of solid organs), caseous necrosis is cheesy (seen in TB),
and fat necrosis occurs in adipose tissue.
**5. Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?**
A) Cellular swelling and fatty change
B) Nuclear fragmentation
C) Membrane rupture
D) Mitochondrial calcification
, Correct Answer: Cellular swelling and fatty change
Rationale: Reversible cell injury is characterized by cellular swelling (due to failure of the Na+/K+ pump)
and fatty change (lipid accumulation). Nuclear fragmentation, membrane rupture, and mitochondrial
calcification are features of irreversible injury and necrosis.
**6. In which phase of wound healing does angiogenesis and new blood vessel formation primarily
occur?**
A) Inflammatory phase
B) Proliferative phase
C) Maturation phase
D) Hemostasis phase
Correct Answer: Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase of wound healing is characterized by angiogenesis (new blood vessel
formation), fibroblast activity, and granulation tissue formation. This phase typically begins 2-3 days
after injury.
**7. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is responsible for anaphylaxis?**
A) Type I (immediate)
B) Type II (cytotoxic)
C) Type III (immune complex)
D) Type IV (delayed)
Correct Answer: Type I (immediate)
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by IgE antibodies and mast cells.
Exposure to an allergen triggers mast cell degranulation and release of histamine and other mediators.
**8. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an example of which type of hypersensitivity reaction?**
Exams | 2026 Edition (PDF)
**1. A patient with long-standing uncontrolled hypertension develops an enlarged left ventricle on
echocardiogram. Which cellular adaptation explains this finding?**
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload from hypertension increases myocyte size (cardiac cells cannot
divide), enlarging the ventricle. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, and metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another.
**2. A chronic smoker's esophageal biopsy shows columnar epithelium replacing normal squamous
epithelium (Barrett esophagus). This change is best described as:**
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hyperplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible substitution of a stress-tolerant cell type (columnar) for squamous
epithelium under acid injury. Dysplasia is disordered pre-malignant growth, hyperplasia is increased
number of the same cell type, and anaplasia is lack of differentiation characteristic of malignancy.
**3. Which finding indicates REVERSIBLE cell injury rather than necrosis?**
,A) Karyolysis
B) Pyknosis
C) Cellular swelling
D) Karyorrhexis
Correct Answer: Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) from ATP depletion and Na+/K+ pump failure is reversible
if the insult resolves. Karyolysis, pyknosis, and karyorrhexis are all nuclear changes associated with
irreversible injury and necrosis.
**4. A pathologist examines brain tissue that has been replaced by a cavity filled with debris and
inflammatory cells. This is most consistent with which type of necrosis?**
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: Liquefactive necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the central nervous system (brain) and occurs when
cellular enzymes and inflammatory cells liquefy dead tissue, forming a cystic cavity. Coagulative necrosis
preserves tissue architecture (seen in ischemia of solid organs), caseous necrosis is cheesy (seen in TB),
and fat necrosis occurs in adipose tissue.
**5. Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?**
A) Cellular swelling and fatty change
B) Nuclear fragmentation
C) Membrane rupture
D) Mitochondrial calcification
, Correct Answer: Cellular swelling and fatty change
Rationale: Reversible cell injury is characterized by cellular swelling (due to failure of the Na+/K+ pump)
and fatty change (lipid accumulation). Nuclear fragmentation, membrane rupture, and mitochondrial
calcification are features of irreversible injury and necrosis.
**6. In which phase of wound healing does angiogenesis and new blood vessel formation primarily
occur?**
A) Inflammatory phase
B) Proliferative phase
C) Maturation phase
D) Hemostasis phase
Correct Answer: Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase of wound healing is characterized by angiogenesis (new blood vessel
formation), fibroblast activity, and granulation tissue formation. This phase typically begins 2-3 days
after injury.
**7. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is responsible for anaphylaxis?**
A) Type I (immediate)
B) Type II (cytotoxic)
C) Type III (immune complex)
D) Type IV (delayed)
Correct Answer: Type I (immediate)
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by IgE antibodies and mast cells.
Exposure to an allergen triggers mast cell degranulation and release of histamine and other mediators.
**8. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an example of which type of hypersensitivity reaction?**
