,BIOD 331 / NURS 231 Pathophysiology Final Exam: 250+
Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Portage Learning Modules 1-10 Comprehensive
Review | 2026/2027 Update | Graded A+ | Instant Download
Question 1
A patient who is immobilized in bed for six weeks develops
skeletal muscle atrophy in the lower extremities. Which
cellular mechanism accounts for this physical change?
• A. Increase in the number of muscle cells (hyperplasia)
• B. Decrease in the size of muscle cells due to reduced
protein synthesis and increased protein degradation
• C. Transformation of muscle tissue into fibrous connective
tissue (metaplasia)
• D. Uncontrolled malignant cellular proliferation (neoplasia)
• Answer: B – Decrease in the size of muscle cells due to
reduced protein synthesis and increased protein
degradation
• Rationale: Atrophy is a reversible reduction in the size of a
cell resulting from disuse, diminished workload, aging, or
inadequate blood supply. In skeletal muscle disuse, protein
synthesis decreases while protein catabolism accelerates,
reducing muscle mass without losing total cell count.
,Question 2
A bodybuilder's enlarged skeletal muscles are the result of
which cellular adaptation?
• A. Hyperplasia of muscle fibers
• B. Hypertrophy of existing muscle fibers
• C. Metaplasia of connective tissue into muscle
• D. Dysplasia of cell nuclei
• Answer: B – Hypertrophy of existing muscle fibers
• Rationale: Adult skeletal muscle cells cannot undergo
hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Instead, they enlarge
in response to increased workload through increased
protein synthesis of actin and myosin filaments, which
represents physiologic hypertrophy.
Question 3
A chronic cigarette smoker presents with a persistent cough. A
bronchial biopsy reveals that the normal pseudostratified
ciliated columnar epithelium has been replaced by stratified
squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
• A. Hyperplasia
• B. Dysplasia
• C. Metaplasia
, • D. Anaplasia
• Answer: C – Metaplasia
• Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
mature cell type by another mature cell type in response
to chronic irritation or injury. While stratified squamous
epithelium survives toxic smoke better, it loses protective
cilia and mucus secretion.
Question 4
Which of the following cellular alterations is considered a
precancerous change characterized by disordered, non-
uniform cells with varying sizes, shapes, and nuclear
abnormalities?
• A. Metaplasia
• B. Dysplasia
• C. Atrophy
• D. Hypertrophy
• Answer: B – Dysplasia
• Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cell growth that
results in cells of varying sizes, shapes, and organization. It
is frequently encountered in epithelial tissues and is
considered a strong precursor to malignant neoplasia.
Question 5
Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Portage Learning Modules 1-10 Comprehensive
Review | 2026/2027 Update | Graded A+ | Instant Download
Question 1
A patient who is immobilized in bed for six weeks develops
skeletal muscle atrophy in the lower extremities. Which
cellular mechanism accounts for this physical change?
• A. Increase in the number of muscle cells (hyperplasia)
• B. Decrease in the size of muscle cells due to reduced
protein synthesis and increased protein degradation
• C. Transformation of muscle tissue into fibrous connective
tissue (metaplasia)
• D. Uncontrolled malignant cellular proliferation (neoplasia)
• Answer: B – Decrease in the size of muscle cells due to
reduced protein synthesis and increased protein
degradation
• Rationale: Atrophy is a reversible reduction in the size of a
cell resulting from disuse, diminished workload, aging, or
inadequate blood supply. In skeletal muscle disuse, protein
synthesis decreases while protein catabolism accelerates,
reducing muscle mass without losing total cell count.
,Question 2
A bodybuilder's enlarged skeletal muscles are the result of
which cellular adaptation?
• A. Hyperplasia of muscle fibers
• B. Hypertrophy of existing muscle fibers
• C. Metaplasia of connective tissue into muscle
• D. Dysplasia of cell nuclei
• Answer: B – Hypertrophy of existing muscle fibers
• Rationale: Adult skeletal muscle cells cannot undergo
hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Instead, they enlarge
in response to increased workload through increased
protein synthesis of actin and myosin filaments, which
represents physiologic hypertrophy.
Question 3
A chronic cigarette smoker presents with a persistent cough. A
bronchial biopsy reveals that the normal pseudostratified
ciliated columnar epithelium has been replaced by stratified
squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
• A. Hyperplasia
• B. Dysplasia
• C. Metaplasia
, • D. Anaplasia
• Answer: C – Metaplasia
• Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
mature cell type by another mature cell type in response
to chronic irritation or injury. While stratified squamous
epithelium survives toxic smoke better, it loses protective
cilia and mucus secretion.
Question 4
Which of the following cellular alterations is considered a
precancerous change characterized by disordered, non-
uniform cells with varying sizes, shapes, and nuclear
abnormalities?
• A. Metaplasia
• B. Dysplasia
• C. Atrophy
• D. Hypertrophy
• Answer: B – Dysplasia
• Rationale: Dysplasia refers to deranged cell growth that
results in cells of varying sizes, shapes, and organization. It
is frequently encountered in epithelial tissues and is
considered a strong precursor to malignant neoplasia.
Question 5
