BSN Week 3 Quiz | Pathophysiology & Clinical Reasoning Basics
2026|Galen College
1. Which type of cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size, often due to
disuse or decreased blood flow?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size. If enough cells shrink, the entire organ
shrinks.
2. A patient with high blood pressure develops an enlarged left ventricle. This
increase in the size of the muscle cells is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, and consequently, the size of the
organ.
,3. Which process refers to an increase in the number of cells resulting from an
increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.
4. The reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another less mature
cell type is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia involves the reprogramming of stem cells to replace one cell type
with another better suited to handle stress.
5. Which term describes abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells, often seen in the cervix?
A. Metaplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal cell growth and is often considered a precursor to
cancer (pre-cancerous).
, 6. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Genetic factors
C. Hypoxia
D. Chemical agents
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular
injury.
7. What is the term for a reduced supply of blood to a body part or organ,
usually caused by constriction or obstruction of a blood vessel?
A. Ischemia
B. Anoxia
C. Hypoxemia
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Ischemia is a restricted blood supply which leads to hypoxia in the affected
tissues.
8. Programmed cell death that is a normal part of the cell cycle is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction, often called
programmed cell death.
2026|Galen College
1. Which type of cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size, often due to
disuse or decreased blood flow?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size. If enough cells shrink, the entire organ
shrinks.
2. A patient with high blood pressure develops an enlarged left ventricle. This
increase in the size of the muscle cells is known as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, and consequently, the size of the
organ.
,3. Which process refers to an increase in the number of cells resulting from an
increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.
4. The reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another less mature
cell type is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia involves the reprogramming of stem cells to replace one cell type
with another better suited to handle stress.
5. Which term describes abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells, often seen in the cervix?
A. Metaplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal cell growth and is often considered a precursor to
cancer (pre-cancerous).
, 6. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Genetic factors
C. Hypoxia
D. Chemical agents
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the most common cause of cellular
injury.
7. What is the term for a reduced supply of blood to a body part or organ,
usually caused by constriction or obstruction of a blood vessel?
A. Ischemia
B. Anoxia
C. Hypoxemia
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Ischemia is a restricted blood supply which leads to hypoxia in the affected
tissues.
8. Programmed cell death that is a normal part of the cell cycle is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction, often called
programmed cell death.
