COMPLETE TEST BANK WITH ANSWER GUIDE – = = = = = =
PATHO 370 FINAL EXAM
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UPDATED 2026/2027 =
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Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
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Question 1: The process by which cells adapt to changes in their
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environment to maintain homeostasis is called:
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A. Metaplasia =
B. Dysplasia =
C. Cellular adaptation
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D. Neoplasia =
Correct Answer: C. Cellular adaptation
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Rationale: Cellular adaptation is the process by which cells respond
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to changes in their environment to maintain homeostasis. This include
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s atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
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,Adaptations can be physiologic (normal) or pathologic (disease-
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related) . = =
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Question 2: A decrease in cell size is referred to as:
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A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
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Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. This can result from
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decreased workload, loss of innervation, decreased blood supply,
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inadequate nutrition, or aging. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
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size; hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; metaplasia is a
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change in cell type .
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Question 3: An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue
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is called:
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A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
,Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
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Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It can
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be physiologic (e.g., breast development during pregnancy) or
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pathologic (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia). Hypertrophy is
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increased cell size. The endometrium undergoes cyclic hyperplasia
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and shedding during the menstrual cycle .
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Question 4: A reversible change in which one adult cell type is
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replaced by another adult cell type is:
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A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
Correct Answer: D. Metaplasia
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Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell
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type is replaced by another adult cell type. It is an adaptive
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response to chronic irritation. An example is Barrett's esophagus,
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where the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replace
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d by columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid reflux. This is a
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protective mechanism but may increase the risk of cancer .
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Question 5: The mechanism of cellular injury in ischemia is primarily
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due to:
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A. Bacterial toxins = =
B. Radiation =
C. Lack of oxygen = = =
D. Genetic mutations = =
Correct Answer: C. Lack of oxygen
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Rationale: Ischemia is reduced blood supply to a tissue, leading to
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hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). Without oxygen, cells cannot
= = = = = =
perform aerobic metabolism, leading to ATP depletion, failure of
= = = = = = = = =
the sodium-
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potassium pump, cellular swelling, and ultimately cell death
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(necrosis or apoptosis). Ischemia is a common cause of cellular
= = = = = = = = = =
injury and cell death .
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Question 6: What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
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A. Cellular swelling = =
B. Loss of microvilli
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C. Mitochondrial dysfunction = =
D. Nuclear changes (karyolysis, pyknosis, karyorrhexis)
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PATHO 370 FINAL EXAM
= = = =
UPDATED 2026/2027 =
=
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
= = = = = =
=
Question 1: The process by which cells adapt to changes in their
= = = = = = = = = = = =
environment to maintain homeostasis is called:
= = = = = =
A. Metaplasia =
B. Dysplasia =
C. Cellular adaptation
= =
D. Neoplasia =
Correct Answer: C. Cellular adaptation
= = = = =
Rationale: Cellular adaptation is the process by which cells respond
= = = = = = = = =
to changes in their environment to maintain homeostasis. This include
= = = = = = = = = =
s atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
= = = = = =
,Adaptations can be physiologic (normal) or pathologic (disease-
= = = = = = = =
related) . = =
=
Question 2: A decrease in cell size is referred to as:
= = = = = = = = = = =
A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
= = = =
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. This can result from
= = = = = = = = = = =
decreased workload, loss of innervation, decreased blood supply,
= = = = = = = =
inadequate nutrition, or aging. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
= = = = = = = = = = =
size; hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; metaplasia is a
= = = = = = = = = = =
change in cell type .
= = = = =
=
Question 3: An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
is called:
= =
A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
,Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
= = = =
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. It can
= = = = = = = = = = =
be physiologic (e.g., breast development during pregnancy) or
= = = = = = = =
pathologic (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia). Hypertrophy is
= = = = = = =
increased cell size. The endometrium undergoes cyclic hyperplasia
= = = = = = = = =
and shedding during the menstrual cycle .
= = = = = = =
=
Question 4: A reversible change in which one adult cell type is
= = = = = = = = = = =
replaced by another adult cell type is:
= = = = = = = =
A. Hypertrophy =
B. Hyperplasia =
C. Atrophy =
D. Metaplasia =
Correct Answer: D. Metaplasia
= = = =
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell
= = = = = = = = = =
type is replaced by another adult cell type. It is an adaptive
= = = = = = = = = = = =
response to chronic irritation. An example is Barrett's esophagus,
= = = = = = = = = =
where the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replace
= = = = = = = = =
d by columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid reflux. This is a
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
protective mechanism but may increase the risk of cancer .
= = = = = = = = = =
, =
Question 5: The mechanism of cellular injury in ischemia is primarily
= = = = = = = = = =
due to:
= = =
A. Bacterial toxins = =
B. Radiation =
C. Lack of oxygen = = =
D. Genetic mutations = =
Correct Answer: C. Lack of oxygen
= = = = = =
Rationale: Ischemia is reduced blood supply to a tissue, leading to
= = = = = = = = = = =
hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). Without oxygen, cells cannot
= = = = = =
perform aerobic metabolism, leading to ATP depletion, failure of
= = = = = = = = =
the sodium-
= =
potassium pump, cellular swelling, and ultimately cell death
= = = = = = =
(necrosis or apoptosis). Ischemia is a common cause of cellular
= = = = = = = = = =
injury and cell death .
= = = = = =
=
Question 6: What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
= = = = = = = = = =
A. Cellular swelling = =
B. Loss of microvilli
= = =
C. Mitochondrial dysfunction = =
D. Nuclear changes (karyolysis, pyknosis, karyorrhexis)
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