NSG5003 Advanced Pathophysiology
Quizzes All Weeks 1–10 Multiple Choice
Questions with Verified Answers and
Rationales for South University 2026-
2027
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size in response to
increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, commonly occurring in tissues such
as skeletal and cardiac muscle in response to increased workload.
2. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation and may occur
physiologically or pathologically.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and metabolic activity?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
,Correct Answer: A. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size and activity, often because of disuse,
reduced blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or loss of hormonal stimulation.
4. A chronic irritation causes respiratory epithelial cells to change from one mature cell type
to another. What process is occurring?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
better able to tolerate a persistent stressor.
5. Which cellular process is characterized by disorganized abnormal cell growth and
maturation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular organization and maturation and may be
associated with premalignant changes.
6. Which intracellular structure is primarily responsible for ATP production?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
,7. What is the earliest major consequence of inadequate cellular oxygen?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Decreased ATP production
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased DNA replication
Correct Answer: B. Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Oxygen deprivation impairs oxidative phosphorylation, reducing ATP production and
disrupting energy-dependent cellular processes.
8. ATP depletion impairs which cellular process first?
A. Sodium-potassium pump function
B. DNA transcription exclusively
C. Collagen synthesis only
D. Antibody production
Correct Answer: A. Sodium-potassium pump function
Rationale: ATP-dependent membrane pumps fail when ATP is depleted, causing intracellular
sodium and water accumulation.
9. What causes cellular swelling during early reversible injury?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Failure of ion pumps
C. Increased DNA repair
D. Increased lysosomal digestion
Correct Answer: B. Failure of ion pumps
Rationale: Loss of ATP impairs membrane ion pumps, allowing sodium and water to enter cells.
10. Which type of cellular death generally produces inflammation in surrounding tissue?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Physiologic turnover
D. Autophagy
, Correct Answer: B. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis involves cell membrane disruption and release of intracellular contents,
which can trigger inflammation.
11. Which feature best distinguishes apoptosis from necrosis?
A. Apoptosis typically causes extensive inflammation
B. Apoptosis is programmed cell death
C. Necrosis requires caspase activation
D. Necrosis is always physiologic
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis is programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cellular self-destruction and usually occurs without the
inflammatory response associated with necrosis.
12. Which organelle contains enzymes capable of digesting cellular components?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Centriole
Correct Answer: A. Lysosome
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular material.
13. Which reactive molecules can cause oxidative cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Albumin
C. Insulin
D. Electrolytes
Correct Answer: A. Free radicals
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species can damage lipids, proteins, DNA, and cellular membranes.
14. Which antioxidant enzyme helps protect cells from superoxide radicals?
A. Superoxide dismutase
B. Amylase
Quizzes All Weeks 1–10 Multiple Choice
Questions with Verified Answers and
Rationales for South University 2026-
2027
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size in response to
increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, commonly occurring in tissues such
as skeletal and cardiac muscle in response to increased workload.
2. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation and may occur
physiologically or pathologically.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and metabolic activity?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
,Correct Answer: A. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size and activity, often because of disuse,
reduced blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or loss of hormonal stimulation.
4. A chronic irritation causes respiratory epithelial cells to change from one mature cell type
to another. What process is occurring?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
better able to tolerate a persistent stressor.
5. Which cellular process is characterized by disorganized abnormal cell growth and
maturation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular organization and maturation and may be
associated with premalignant changes.
6. Which intracellular structure is primarily responsible for ATP production?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
,7. What is the earliest major consequence of inadequate cellular oxygen?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Decreased ATP production
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased DNA replication
Correct Answer: B. Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Oxygen deprivation impairs oxidative phosphorylation, reducing ATP production and
disrupting energy-dependent cellular processes.
8. ATP depletion impairs which cellular process first?
A. Sodium-potassium pump function
B. DNA transcription exclusively
C. Collagen synthesis only
D. Antibody production
Correct Answer: A. Sodium-potassium pump function
Rationale: ATP-dependent membrane pumps fail when ATP is depleted, causing intracellular
sodium and water accumulation.
9. What causes cellular swelling during early reversible injury?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Failure of ion pumps
C. Increased DNA repair
D. Increased lysosomal digestion
Correct Answer: B. Failure of ion pumps
Rationale: Loss of ATP impairs membrane ion pumps, allowing sodium and water to enter cells.
10. Which type of cellular death generally produces inflammation in surrounding tissue?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Physiologic turnover
D. Autophagy
, Correct Answer: B. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis involves cell membrane disruption and release of intracellular contents,
which can trigger inflammation.
11. Which feature best distinguishes apoptosis from necrosis?
A. Apoptosis typically causes extensive inflammation
B. Apoptosis is programmed cell death
C. Necrosis requires caspase activation
D. Necrosis is always physiologic
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis is programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cellular self-destruction and usually occurs without the
inflammatory response associated with necrosis.
12. Which organelle contains enzymes capable of digesting cellular components?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Centriole
Correct Answer: A. Lysosome
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular material.
13. Which reactive molecules can cause oxidative cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Albumin
C. Insulin
D. Electrolytes
Correct Answer: A. Free radicals
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species can damage lipids, proteins, DNA, and cellular membranes.
14. Which antioxidant enzyme helps protect cells from superoxide radicals?
A. Superoxide dismutase
B. Amylase
