BIOL 271 MODULE 2 EXAM: GENETIC
AND CELLULAR ALTERATIONS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by a reversible change in which one adult
cell type is replaced by another adult cell type, often due to chronic irritation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking or acid reflux.
2. A 55-year-old male with long-standing hypertension shows an increase in the size of his left
ventricular cardiomyocytes. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
,C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. When it occurs in the
heart due to hypertension, it is considered pathologic hypertrophy as it results from a
disease state.
3. Which mechanism of cell injury is most directly responsible for the failure of the sodium-
potassium (Na+/K+) pump during hypoxic conditions?
A. Activation of lysosomal enzymes
B. Accumulation of lactic acid
C. Reduced ATP production
D. Increased intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to a failure of aerobic respiration and a
subsequent drop in ATP. The Na+/K+ pump requires ATP to function; without it, sodium
stays in the cell, leading to swelling.
4. Free radicals cause cell injury through which of the following processes?
A. Lipid peroxidation of membranes
B. Inactivation of lysosomal enzymes
, C. Reduction of intracellular calcium
D. Stabilization of DNA strands
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Free radicals damage cells through lipid peroxidation of
membranes, oxidative modification of proteins, and DNA damage.
5. Which form of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to the high lipid
and enzyme content, resulting in the digestion of dead cells into a liquid mass.
6. Apoptosis is distinct from necrosis because apoptosis:
A. Is a programmed, energy-dependent process
B. Always causes significant inflammation
C. Results from overwhelming external injury
D. Involves random enzymatic degradation of DNA
AND CELLULAR ALTERATIONS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which type of cellular adaptation is characterized by a reversible change in which one adult
cell type is replaced by another adult cell type, often due to chronic irritation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking or acid reflux.
2. A 55-year-old male with long-standing hypertension shows an increase in the size of his left
ventricular cardiomyocytes. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy
,C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. When it occurs in the
heart due to hypertension, it is considered pathologic hypertrophy as it results from a
disease state.
3. Which mechanism of cell injury is most directly responsible for the failure of the sodium-
potassium (Na+/K+) pump during hypoxic conditions?
A. Activation of lysosomal enzymes
B. Accumulation of lactic acid
C. Reduced ATP production
D. Increased intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to a failure of aerobic respiration and a
subsequent drop in ATP. The Na+/K+ pump requires ATP to function; without it, sodium
stays in the cell, leading to swelling.
4. Free radicals cause cell injury through which of the following processes?
A. Lipid peroxidation of membranes
B. Inactivation of lysosomal enzymes
, C. Reduction of intracellular calcium
D. Stabilization of DNA strands
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Free radicals damage cells through lipid peroxidation of
membranes, oxidative modification of proteins, and DNA damage.
5. Which form of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to the high lipid
and enzyme content, resulting in the digestion of dead cells into a liquid mass.
6. Apoptosis is distinct from necrosis because apoptosis:
A. Is a programmed, energy-dependent process
B. Always causes significant inflammation
C. Results from overwhelming external injury
D. Involves random enzymatic degradation of DNA
