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PATHO 370 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAMINATION – QUESTIONS
With Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND INJURY (Questions)
1. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutation
B) Hypoxia
C) Trauma
D) Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen supply) is the most
common cause of cellular injury.
2. Which organelle is most susceptible to hypoxic injury?
A) Golgi apparatus
B) Mitochondria
C) Ribosomes
D) Lysosomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria require oxygen for ATP production and
are highly sensitive to hypoxia.
3. "Reversible cell injury" is characterized by:
A) Necrosis
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B) Cellular swelling and fatty change
C) Apoptosis
D) Pyknosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Reversible injury shows cellular swelling and fatty
changes; the cell can recover if the stimulus is removed.
4. The hallmark of "irreversible cell injury" is:
A) Cellular swelling
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction and membrane damage
C) Fatty change only
D) Glycogen depletion only
Answer: B
Rationale: Irreversible injury involves severe mitochondrial and
membrane damage leading to cell death.
5. "Necrosis" differs from "apoptosis" in that necrosis:
A) Is programmed cell death
B) Causes inflammation
C) Is energy-dependent
D) Produces apoptotic bodies without inflammation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is unregulated cell death that triggers an
inflammatory response.
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6. "Apoptosis" is characterized by all EXCEPT:
A) Cell shrinkage
B) Chromatin condensation
C) Inflammatory response
D) Formation of apoptotic bodies
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis does NOT cause inflammation; it is a
clean, programmed process.
7. "Coagulative necrosis" is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection
B) Ischemia (e.g., myocardial infarction)
C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from ischemia and is
seen in the heart, kidney, and spleen.
8. "Liquefactive necrosis" is most commonly seen in:
A) Heart muscle
B) Brain tissue and abscesses
C) Liver
D) Kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain (high lipid
content) and in bacterial abscesses.
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9. "Caseous necrosis" is characteristic of:
A) Ischemic injury
B) Tuberculosis
C) Burns
D) Frostbite
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis has a cheese-like appearance and is
seen in TB granulomas.
10. "Fat necrosis" is associated with:
A) Brain injury
B) Pancreatitis
C) Heart attack
D) Lung infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Fat necrosis occurs when lipases break down
triglycerides, often in pancreatitis.
11. "Gangrenous necrosis" is a type of:
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis with secondary infection or desiccation
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fibrinoid necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Gangrene is coagulative necrosis modified by
infection (wet) or drying (dry).
PATHO 370 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAMINATION – QUESTIONS
With Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND INJURY (Questions)
1. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutation
B) Hypoxia
C) Trauma
D) Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen supply) is the most
common cause of cellular injury.
2. Which organelle is most susceptible to hypoxic injury?
A) Golgi apparatus
B) Mitochondria
C) Ribosomes
D) Lysosomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria require oxygen for ATP production and
are highly sensitive to hypoxia.
3. "Reversible cell injury" is characterized by:
A) Necrosis
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
B) Cellular swelling and fatty change
C) Apoptosis
D) Pyknosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Reversible injury shows cellular swelling and fatty
changes; the cell can recover if the stimulus is removed.
4. The hallmark of "irreversible cell injury" is:
A) Cellular swelling
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction and membrane damage
C) Fatty change only
D) Glycogen depletion only
Answer: B
Rationale: Irreversible injury involves severe mitochondrial and
membrane damage leading to cell death.
5. "Necrosis" differs from "apoptosis" in that necrosis:
A) Is programmed cell death
B) Causes inflammation
C) Is energy-dependent
D) Produces apoptotic bodies without inflammation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is unregulated cell death that triggers an
inflammatory response.
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
6. "Apoptosis" is characterized by all EXCEPT:
A) Cell shrinkage
B) Chromatin condensation
C) Inflammatory response
D) Formation of apoptotic bodies
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis does NOT cause inflammation; it is a
clean, programmed process.
7. "Coagulative necrosis" is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection
B) Ischemia (e.g., myocardial infarction)
C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from ischemia and is
seen in the heart, kidney, and spleen.
8. "Liquefactive necrosis" is most commonly seen in:
A) Heart muscle
B) Brain tissue and abscesses
C) Liver
D) Kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain (high lipid
content) and in bacterial abscesses.
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
9. "Caseous necrosis" is characteristic of:
A) Ischemic injury
B) Tuberculosis
C) Burns
D) Frostbite
Answer: B
Rationale: Caseous necrosis has a cheese-like appearance and is
seen in TB granulomas.
10. "Fat necrosis" is associated with:
A) Brain injury
B) Pancreatitis
C) Heart attack
D) Lung infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Fat necrosis occurs when lipases break down
triglycerides, often in pancreatitis.
11. "Gangrenous necrosis" is a type of:
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis with secondary infection or desiccation
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fibrinoid necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Gangrene is coagulative necrosis modified by
infection (wet) or drying (dry).
