WGU D236 Pathophysiology Objective
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1. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the size of
individual cells?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, usually resulting
from increased workload. Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell
number.
2. A patient's skeletal muscle increases in size after resistance
training. Which process is primarily responsible?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
,D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Skeletal muscle responds to increased workload primarily
through hypertrophy, in which existing muscle fibers enlarge.
3. Which process describes an increase in the number of cells in a
tissue?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation
and therefore increases the number of cells.
4. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells decrease in size
because of reduced workload or inadequate nutrition?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
,Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and often results from
decreased use, poor nutrition, loss of innervation, or reduced blood
supply.
5. A chronic smoker develops replacement of normal respiratory
epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium. Which adaptation
has occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one mature cell
type is replaced by another better able to tolerate chronic stress.
6. Which statement best describes metaplasia?
A. Irreversible cell death
B. Increase in cell size
C. Replacement of one differentiated cell type by another
D. Uncontrolled malignant proliferation
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive and generally reversible
substitution of one mature cell type for another.
, 7. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, regulated
cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that removes
unwanted or damaged cells while generally producing minimal
inflammation.
8. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Cell shrinkage without inflammation
B. Formation of apoptotic bodies
C. Cell membrane disruption and inflammation
D. Controlled removal of individual cells
Rationale: Necrosis involves loss of membrane integrity, cellular
swelling, leakage of intracellular contents, and an inflammatory
response.
Assessment (OA) Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the size of
individual cells?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, usually resulting
from increased workload. Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell
number.
2. A patient's skeletal muscle increases in size after resistance
training. Which process is primarily responsible?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
,D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Skeletal muscle responds to increased workload primarily
through hypertrophy, in which existing muscle fibers enlarge.
3. Which process describes an increase in the number of cells in a
tissue?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation
and therefore increases the number of cells.
4. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells decrease in size
because of reduced workload or inadequate nutrition?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
,Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and often results from
decreased use, poor nutrition, loss of innervation, or reduced blood
supply.
5. A chronic smoker develops replacement of normal respiratory
epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium. Which adaptation
has occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one mature cell
type is replaced by another better able to tolerate chronic stress.
6. Which statement best describes metaplasia?
A. Irreversible cell death
B. Increase in cell size
C. Replacement of one differentiated cell type by another
D. Uncontrolled malignant proliferation
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive and generally reversible
substitution of one mature cell type for another.
, 7. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, regulated
cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that removes
unwanted or damaged cells while generally producing minimal
inflammation.
8. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Cell shrinkage without inflammation
B. Formation of apoptotic bodies
C. Cell membrane disruption and inflammation
D. Controlled removal of individual cells
Rationale: Necrosis involves loss of membrane integrity, cellular
swelling, leakage of intracellular contents, and an inflammatory
response.
