D236 Pathophysiology Final Exam Practice 2026 |WGU
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by loss of cell substance, often due to
decreased workload or malnutrition.
2. What is the primary characteristic of metaplasia?
A. Replacement of one adult cell type with another
B. Disorganized cell growth
C. Increase in the number of cells
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by
another adult cell type better able to withstand the stress.
3. Which of the following describes dysplasia?
A. Normal cell growth
B. Deranged cell growth of a specific tissue
C. Decreased cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type for another
Answer: B
,Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells, often a precursor to cancer.
4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Chemical agents
C. Infectious agents
D. Hypoxia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
5. Apoptosis is defined as:
A. Programmed cell death
B. Accidental cell death due to injury
C. Cell death caused by inflammation
D. Increase in cell size
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct type of cell death that is a programmed process to
eliminate unwanted or damaged cells.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most closely associated with fatal cardiac
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypomagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Potassium (K+) is vital for cardiac conduction; excessive levels (hyperkalemia)
can lead to cardiac arrest.
, 7. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Lymphatic obstruction
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Answer: D
Rationale: The liver produces albumin; liver failure leads to low albumin levels, decreasing
oncotic pressure and allowing fluid to leak into tissues.
8. Which acid-base imbalance is expected in a patient with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: COPD patients retain CO2 (an acid), leading to a drop in pH, which results in
respiratory acidosis.
9. Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by which antibody?
A. IgE
B. IgM
C. IgG
D. IgA
Answer: A
Rationale: IgE antibodies bind to mast cells, triggering the release of histamine in allergic
(Type I) reactions.
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by loss of cell substance, often due to
decreased workload or malnutrition.
2. What is the primary characteristic of metaplasia?
A. Replacement of one adult cell type with another
B. Disorganized cell growth
C. Increase in the number of cells
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by
another adult cell type better able to withstand the stress.
3. Which of the following describes dysplasia?
A. Normal cell growth
B. Deranged cell growth of a specific tissue
C. Decreased cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type for another
Answer: B
,Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells, often a precursor to cancer.
4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Chemical agents
C. Infectious agents
D. Hypoxia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
5. Apoptosis is defined as:
A. Programmed cell death
B. Accidental cell death due to injury
C. Cell death caused by inflammation
D. Increase in cell size
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct type of cell death that is a programmed process to
eliminate unwanted or damaged cells.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most closely associated with fatal cardiac
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypomagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Potassium (K+) is vital for cardiac conduction; excessive levels (hyperkalemia)
can lead to cardiac arrest.
, 7. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Lymphatic obstruction
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Answer: D
Rationale: The liver produces albumin; liver failure leads to low albumin levels, decreasing
oncotic pressure and allowing fluid to leak into tissues.
8. Which acid-base imbalance is expected in a patient with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: COPD patients retain CO2 (an acid), leading to a drop in pH, which results in
respiratory acidosis.
9. Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by which antibody?
A. IgE
B. IgM
C. IgG
D. IgA
Answer: A
Rationale: IgE antibodies bind to mast cells, triggering the release of histamine in allergic
(Type I) reactions.
