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PATHO 370 – MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE West Coast University – High-Yield
Topics with Practice Questions
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND INJURY
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number. It
occurs in tissues where cells cannot divide, such as cardiac
muscle.
2. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hypertrophy?
A) Enlargement of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Cardiac enlargement from heart failure
D) Muscle atrophy from disuse
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Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is a normal
physiological response.
3. Metaplasia is best described as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type
C) Uncontrolled cell growth
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another.
4. Which of the following is an example of metaplasia?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy
B) Barrett's esophagus (esophageal squamous cells replaced by
columnar cells)
C) Muscle atrophy
D) Hyperplasia of the prostate
Answer: B
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Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of
metaplasia due to chronic acid reflux.
5. Dysplasia is characterized by:
A) Normal cell growth
B) Abnormal cell growth with disordered maturation
C) Benign tumor formation
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cell size, shape, and
organization—often precancerous.
6. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
A) The brain
B) The heart and kidneys (ischemic injury)
C) The pancreas
D) Tuberculosis infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in ischemic conditions in
solid organs.
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7. Liquefactive necrosis is most characteristic of:
A) Cardiac infarction
B) Brain infarction
C) Renal infarction
D) Skeletal muscle injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to its
high lipid content.
8. Caseous necrosis is classically associated with:
A) Ischemia
B) Tuberculosis infection
C) Pancreatitis
D) Burns
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a hallmark of tuberculosis.
9. Apoptosis is best described as:
A) Uncontrolled cell death
B) Programmed cell death
C) Cell swelling and rupture
D) Inflammatory cell death
PATHO 370 – MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE West Coast University – High-Yield
Topics with Practice Questions
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND INJURY
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number. It
occurs in tissues where cells cannot divide, such as cardiac
muscle.
2. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hypertrophy?
A) Enlargement of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Cardiac enlargement from heart failure
D) Muscle atrophy from disuse
, Page |2
Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is a normal
physiological response.
3. Metaplasia is best described as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type
C) Uncontrolled cell growth
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another.
4. Which of the following is an example of metaplasia?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy
B) Barrett's esophagus (esophageal squamous cells replaced by
columnar cells)
C) Muscle atrophy
D) Hyperplasia of the prostate
Answer: B
, Page |3
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of
metaplasia due to chronic acid reflux.
5. Dysplasia is characterized by:
A) Normal cell growth
B) Abnormal cell growth with disordered maturation
C) Benign tumor formation
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cell size, shape, and
organization—often precancerous.
6. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
A) The brain
B) The heart and kidneys (ischemic injury)
C) The pancreas
D) Tuberculosis infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in ischemic conditions in
solid organs.
, Page |4
7. Liquefactive necrosis is most characteristic of:
A) Cardiac infarction
B) Brain infarction
C) Renal infarction
D) Skeletal muscle injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to its
high lipid content.
8. Caseous necrosis is classically associated with:
A) Ischemia
B) Tuberculosis infection
C) Pancreatitis
D) Burns
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a hallmark of tuberculosis.
9. Apoptosis is best described as:
A) Uncontrolled cell death
B) Programmed cell death
C) Cell swelling and rupture
D) Inflammatory cell death
