SCI 225 Pathophysiology
Week 1-3(Foundations & Introduction to
Key Concepts)
Final Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
1
,1. Case Study: A 52-year-old male presents with chest pain. A biopsy of
his cardiac tissue reveals cells that are swollen with cytoplasmic
vacuolization but maintain intact plasma membranes. Which term best
describes this cellular change?
A. Apoptosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Reversible injury
D. Irreversible injury
ANS: C – Reversible injury
Rationale: The description of cellular swelling and cytoplasmic
vacuolization with preserved membrane integrity is characteristic of
reversible cellular injury. No permanent damage has occurred, and
normal function may be restored if the insult is removed.
2. Case Study: A long-time smoker undergoes routine bronchoscopy.
The biopsy reveals that the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium has been replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This
change is best classified as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
ANS: B – Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another better suited to withstand
a chronic irritant such as cigarette smoke.
3. Interactive Learning: An infographic on the inflammatory response
outlines several steps. Which step is most directly responsible for the
increased vascular permeability seen in acute inflammation?
A. Exudation of plasma proteins
B. Release of vasoactive mediators
2
, C. Leukocyte rolling and adhesion
D. Phagocytosis of pathogens
ANS: B – Release of vasoactive mediators
Rationale: Mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins, and
leukotrienes are rapidly released after injury, causing endothelial cell
contraction and increased vascular permeability.
4. Case Study: A patient with a bacterial lung infection shows an influx
of inflammatory cells on examination of the sputum smear. Which cell
type is typically the first to respond in an acute inflammatory process?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Macrophages
C. Neutrophils
D. Eosinophils
ANS: C – Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary responders to acute
inflammatory stimuli, rapidly migrating to sites of infection or injury.
5. Visual Analysis: An infographic illustrates the timeline of cellular
injury. At which stage would you expect to see mitochondrial swelling
with loss of cristae?
A. Early reversible injury
B. Late reversible injury
C. Irreversible injury
D. Adaptive hypertrophy
ANS: C – Irreversible injury
Rationale: Mitochondrial changes such as severe swelling and
disruption of cristae signal irreversible injury and often predict impending
cell death.
6. Case Study: A 30-year-old patient with chronic gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) undergoes an endoscopy that reveals columnar
epithelium replacing the normal squamous lining of the esophagus. This
is a classic example of:
A. Hyperplasia
3
Week 1-3(Foundations & Introduction to
Key Concepts)
Final Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
1
,1. Case Study: A 52-year-old male presents with chest pain. A biopsy of
his cardiac tissue reveals cells that are swollen with cytoplasmic
vacuolization but maintain intact plasma membranes. Which term best
describes this cellular change?
A. Apoptosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Reversible injury
D. Irreversible injury
ANS: C – Reversible injury
Rationale: The description of cellular swelling and cytoplasmic
vacuolization with preserved membrane integrity is characteristic of
reversible cellular injury. No permanent damage has occurred, and
normal function may be restored if the insult is removed.
2. Case Study: A long-time smoker undergoes routine bronchoscopy.
The biopsy reveals that the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium has been replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This
change is best classified as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
ANS: B – Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another better suited to withstand
a chronic irritant such as cigarette smoke.
3. Interactive Learning: An infographic on the inflammatory response
outlines several steps. Which step is most directly responsible for the
increased vascular permeability seen in acute inflammation?
A. Exudation of plasma proteins
B. Release of vasoactive mediators
2
, C. Leukocyte rolling and adhesion
D. Phagocytosis of pathogens
ANS: B – Release of vasoactive mediators
Rationale: Mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins, and
leukotrienes are rapidly released after injury, causing endothelial cell
contraction and increased vascular permeability.
4. Case Study: A patient with a bacterial lung infection shows an influx
of inflammatory cells on examination of the sputum smear. Which cell
type is typically the first to respond in an acute inflammatory process?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Macrophages
C. Neutrophils
D. Eosinophils
ANS: C – Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary responders to acute
inflammatory stimuli, rapidly migrating to sites of infection or injury.
5. Visual Analysis: An infographic illustrates the timeline of cellular
injury. At which stage would you expect to see mitochondrial swelling
with loss of cristae?
A. Early reversible injury
B. Late reversible injury
C. Irreversible injury
D. Adaptive hypertrophy
ANS: C – Irreversible injury
Rationale: Mitochondrial changes such as severe swelling and
disruption of cristae signal irreversible injury and often predict impending
cell death.
6. Case Study: A 30-year-old patient with chronic gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) undergoes an endoscopy that reveals columnar
epithelium replacing the normal squamous lining of the esophagus. This
is a classic example of:
A. Hyperplasia
3
