D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient is diagnosed with cardiac hypertrophy. What is the primary cellular mechanism
driving this adaptation?
A. Increase in the number of myocytes through mitosis
B. Accumulation of lipids within the cytoplasmic space
C. Increase in the synthesis of cellular proteins and organelles
D. Replacement of one mature cell type with another
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number, driven by
increased protein synthesis. Hyperplasia would be an increase in number.
2. Which process occurs during ischemia-reperfusion injury, leading to further cell damage?
A. Restoration of the sodium-potassium pump efficiency
B. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
C. Decrease in intracellular calcium levels
D. Increased pH due to lactic acid washout
,Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is restored to ischemic
tissue, leading to the burst of free radicals (ROS) that damage membranes.
3. A child is born with features including a flat facial profile, up-slanting palpebral fissures,
and a simian crease. What karyotype is most likely?
A. 47, XXY
B. 47, XY, +21
C. 45, X
D. 46, XX, 5p-
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: These are clinical manifestations of Down Syndrome, which is
typically caused by Trisomy 21 (47, XY, +21).
4. What is the primary characteristic of an X-linked recessive disorder inheritance pattern?
A. Affected fathers pass the trait to all of their sons
B. The trait can skip generations through female carriers
C. Females are more frequently affected than males
D. Two copies of the gene are required for a male to be affected
Answer: B
, Conceptual Explanation: X-linked recessive disorders mostly affect males, and females
serve as carriers who can pass the gene to the next generation without being affected.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause the appearance of U waves on an ECG?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypokalemia typically presents with ST depression, flattened T
waves, and the presence of prominent U waves.
6. A patient has an arterial blood gas (ABG) showing pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. What is the interpretation?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. An elevated PaCO2 (>45)
indicates the cause is respiratory.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient is diagnosed with cardiac hypertrophy. What is the primary cellular mechanism
driving this adaptation?
A. Increase in the number of myocytes through mitosis
B. Accumulation of lipids within the cytoplasmic space
C. Increase in the synthesis of cellular proteins and organelles
D. Replacement of one mature cell type with another
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number, driven by
increased protein synthesis. Hyperplasia would be an increase in number.
2. Which process occurs during ischemia-reperfusion injury, leading to further cell damage?
A. Restoration of the sodium-potassium pump efficiency
B. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
C. Decrease in intracellular calcium levels
D. Increased pH due to lactic acid washout
,Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is restored to ischemic
tissue, leading to the burst of free radicals (ROS) that damage membranes.
3. A child is born with features including a flat facial profile, up-slanting palpebral fissures,
and a simian crease. What karyotype is most likely?
A. 47, XXY
B. 47, XY, +21
C. 45, X
D. 46, XX, 5p-
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: These are clinical manifestations of Down Syndrome, which is
typically caused by Trisomy 21 (47, XY, +21).
4. What is the primary characteristic of an X-linked recessive disorder inheritance pattern?
A. Affected fathers pass the trait to all of their sons
B. The trait can skip generations through female carriers
C. Females are more frequently affected than males
D. Two copies of the gene are required for a male to be affected
Answer: B
, Conceptual Explanation: X-linked recessive disorders mostly affect males, and females
serve as carriers who can pass the gene to the next generation without being affected.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause the appearance of U waves on an ECG?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypokalemia typically presents with ST depression, flattened T
waves, and the presence of prominent U waves.
6. A patient has an arterial blood gas (ABG) showing pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. What is the interpretation?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. An elevated PaCO2 (>45)
indicates the cause is respiratory.
