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NU 545 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UNITS 1–7 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE &
EXAMINATION Questions With Answers and Rationales
UNIT 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS (Questions)
1. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutation
B) Hypoxia
C) Trauma
D) Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen supply) is the most
common cause of cellular injury.
2. Which organelle is most sensitive to hypoxic injury?
A) Golgi apparatus
B) Mitochondria
C) Ribosomes
D) Lysosomes
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Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria require oxygen for ATP production and
are highly sensitive to hypoxia.
3. "Reversible cell injury" is characterized by:
A) Necrosis
B) Cellular swelling and fatty change
C) Apoptosis only
D) Pyknosis only
Answer: B
Rationale: Reversible injury shows swelling and fatty changes;
the cell can recover.
4. The hallmark of "irreversible cell injury" is:
A) Cellular swelling only
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction and membrane damage
C) Fatty change only
D) Glycogen depletion only
Answer: B
Rationale: Irreversible injury involves severe mitochondrial and
membrane damage.
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5. "Necrosis" differs from "apoptosis" in that necrosis:
A) Is programmed cell death
B) Causes inflammation
C) Is energy-dependent
D) Produces apoptotic bodies without inflammation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is unregulated cell death that triggers
inflammation.
6. "Apoptosis" is characterized by all EXCEPT:
A) Cell shrinkage
B) Chromatin condensation
C) Inflammatory response
D) Formation of apoptotic bodies
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis does NOT cause inflammation.
7. "Coagulative necrosis" is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection
B) Ischemia (e.g., myocardial infarction)
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C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from ischemia.
8. "Liquefactive necrosis" is most commonly seen in:
A) Heart muscle
B) Brain tissue and abscesses
C) Liver
D) Kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain and
abscesses.
9. "Caseous necrosis" is characteristic of:
A) Ischemic injury
B) Tuberculosis
C) Burns
D) Frostbite
NU 545 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UNITS 1–7 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE &
EXAMINATION Questions With Answers and Rationales
UNIT 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS (Questions)
1. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutation
B) Hypoxia
C) Trauma
D) Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen supply) is the most
common cause of cellular injury.
2. Which organelle is most sensitive to hypoxic injury?
A) Golgi apparatus
B) Mitochondria
C) Ribosomes
D) Lysosomes
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria require oxygen for ATP production and
are highly sensitive to hypoxia.
3. "Reversible cell injury" is characterized by:
A) Necrosis
B) Cellular swelling and fatty change
C) Apoptosis only
D) Pyknosis only
Answer: B
Rationale: Reversible injury shows swelling and fatty changes;
the cell can recover.
4. The hallmark of "irreversible cell injury" is:
A) Cellular swelling only
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction and membrane damage
C) Fatty change only
D) Glycogen depletion only
Answer: B
Rationale: Irreversible injury involves severe mitochondrial and
membrane damage.
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
5. "Necrosis" differs from "apoptosis" in that necrosis:
A) Is programmed cell death
B) Causes inflammation
C) Is energy-dependent
D) Produces apoptotic bodies without inflammation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is unregulated cell death that triggers
inflammation.
6. "Apoptosis" is characterized by all EXCEPT:
A) Cell shrinkage
B) Chromatin condensation
C) Inflammatory response
D) Formation of apoptotic bodies
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis does NOT cause inflammation.
7. "Coagulative necrosis" is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection
B) Ischemia (e.g., myocardial infarction)
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from ischemia.
8. "Liquefactive necrosis" is most commonly seen in:
A) Heart muscle
B) Brain tissue and abscesses
C) Liver
D) Kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain and
abscesses.
9. "Caseous necrosis" is characteristic of:
A) Ischemic injury
B) Tuberculosis
C) Burns
D) Frostbite
