COMPREHENSIVE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 QUESTION BANK |
2026/2027 | 200 HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
1. Which of the following best defines a condition that develops
gradually and lasts longer than six months?
A. Acute
B. Subacute
C. Chronic
D. Terminal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A chronic condition is characterized by a gradual onset and a
duration extending beyond six months, distinguishing it from acute
illnesses which have a rapid onset and short duration.
2. A patient presents with a decrease in the size of cells resulting in
reduced tissue mass. This process is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the reduction in the size of cells, leading to a
decrease in the size of the tissue or organ. Hypertrophy is an increase in
cell size, while hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
3. Which of the following is a circulating leukocyte that produces
histamine and binds IgE?
A. Neutrophils
,B. Eosinophils
C. Basophils
D. Lymphocytes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Basophils are granulocytes that circulate in the blood and
release histamine during allergic reactions. They also have receptors
that bind to IgE antibodies.
4. What is the term for the movement of cells toward or away from a
chemical signal?
A. Phagocytosis
B. Chemotaxis
C. Opsonization
D. Diapedesis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chemotaxis is the directed movement of cells, such as
leukocytes, in response to a chemical gradient. This is a critical
mechanism in the inflammatory response.
5. Which of the following describes a genetic disorder present at birth
that affects both the respiratory and digestive systems?
A. Asthma
B. Cystic Fibrosis
C. Bronchitis
D. Crohn's Disease
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects the cells
producing mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. It leads to severe
respiratory and digestive system complications.
,6. A patient is experiencing a state where the body loses more fluid
than it takes in. This condition is called:
A. Edema
B. Dehydration
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dehydration occurs when fluid loss exceeds fluid intake,
leading to a disruption in normal body functions. Edema is fluid
retention, not loss.
7. Which of the following is a short-term illness that develops quickly
and lasts less than six months?
A. Chronic
B. Acute
C. Latent
D. Congenital
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An acute illness is characterized by a rapid onset and a short
duration, typically resolving in less than six months.
8. What is the term for programmed cell death where the cell destroys
itself?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Gangrene
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is a
, normal physiological process. Necrosis is unregulated cell death due to
injury or disease.
9. Which of the following organisms are unicellular and do not require
living tissue to survive?
A. Viruses
B. Fungi
C. Bacteria
D. Parasites
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotic, unicellular organisms that can
survive and reproduce independently. Viruses require a host cell to
replicate.
10. Which type of cell death is characterized by cell swelling and
rupture, often triggering an inflammatory response?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death resulting from injury,
leading to cell swelling, rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is a clean,
programmed process that does not typically trigger inflammation.
11. A decrease in the number of cells in a tissue or organ is known as:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypoplasia
C. Aplasia
D. Dystrophy
2026/2027 | 200 HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
1. Which of the following best defines a condition that develops
gradually and lasts longer than six months?
A. Acute
B. Subacute
C. Chronic
D. Terminal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A chronic condition is characterized by a gradual onset and a
duration extending beyond six months, distinguishing it from acute
illnesses which have a rapid onset and short duration.
2. A patient presents with a decrease in the size of cells resulting in
reduced tissue mass. This process is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the reduction in the size of cells, leading to a
decrease in the size of the tissue or organ. Hypertrophy is an increase in
cell size, while hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
3. Which of the following is a circulating leukocyte that produces
histamine and binds IgE?
A. Neutrophils
,B. Eosinophils
C. Basophils
D. Lymphocytes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Basophils are granulocytes that circulate in the blood and
release histamine during allergic reactions. They also have receptors
that bind to IgE antibodies.
4. What is the term for the movement of cells toward or away from a
chemical signal?
A. Phagocytosis
B. Chemotaxis
C. Opsonization
D. Diapedesis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chemotaxis is the directed movement of cells, such as
leukocytes, in response to a chemical gradient. This is a critical
mechanism in the inflammatory response.
5. Which of the following describes a genetic disorder present at birth
that affects both the respiratory and digestive systems?
A. Asthma
B. Cystic Fibrosis
C. Bronchitis
D. Crohn's Disease
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects the cells
producing mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. It leads to severe
respiratory and digestive system complications.
,6. A patient is experiencing a state where the body loses more fluid
than it takes in. This condition is called:
A. Edema
B. Dehydration
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dehydration occurs when fluid loss exceeds fluid intake,
leading to a disruption in normal body functions. Edema is fluid
retention, not loss.
7. Which of the following is a short-term illness that develops quickly
and lasts less than six months?
A. Chronic
B. Acute
C. Latent
D. Congenital
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An acute illness is characterized by a rapid onset and a short
duration, typically resolving in less than six months.
8. What is the term for programmed cell death where the cell destroys
itself?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Gangrene
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is a
, normal physiological process. Necrosis is unregulated cell death due to
injury or disease.
9. Which of the following organisms are unicellular and do not require
living tissue to survive?
A. Viruses
B. Fungi
C. Bacteria
D. Parasites
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotic, unicellular organisms that can
survive and reproduce independently. Viruses require a host cell to
replicate.
10. Which type of cell death is characterized by cell swelling and
rupture, often triggering an inflammatory response?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death resulting from injury,
leading to cell swelling, rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is a clean,
programmed process that does not typically trigger inflammation.
11. A decrease in the number of cells in a tissue or organ is known as:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypoplasia
C. Aplasia
D. Dystrophy
