WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE OA PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size, often due to disuse or
decreased blood supply?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of cells, the entire organ shrinks. Common causes include disuse, denervation, and
ischemia.
2. A patient has cardiac enlargement due to increased workload from hypertension. What is
this cellular adaptation called?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
,C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to
mechanical stimuli (such as stretching or increased workload), resulting in an increase in
the size of the affected organ.
3. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another, less mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell by
another, such as the change in ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified squamous
epithelium in the airways of chronic smokers.
4. What is the primary difference between necrosis and apoptosis?
A. Apoptosis is a programmed ‘cell suicide,’ whereas necrosis involves inflammatory
changes after cell death.
, B. Necrosis causes cell shrinkage, while apoptosis causes swelling.
C. Apoptosis is always pathological, while necrosis is always physiological.
D. Necrosis is programmed, while apoptosis is accidental.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is a distinct type of programmed cell death that is
generally ‘clean’ and does not trigger inflammation. Necrosis is cell death characterized by
cellular swelling and inflammation.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause tall, peaked T-waves on an EKG?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) affects cardiac conduction,
typically manifesting as tall peaked T-waves, widened QRS complexes, and potentially
cardiac arrest.
6. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, a PCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3 of 24 mEq/L. What is
the acid-base diagnosis?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
COMPREHENSIVE OA PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size, often due to disuse or
decreased blood supply?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of cells, the entire organ shrinks. Common causes include disuse, denervation, and
ischemia.
2. A patient has cardiac enlargement due to increased workload from hypertension. What is
this cellular adaptation called?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
,C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to
mechanical stimuli (such as stretching or increased workload), resulting in an increase in
the size of the affected organ.
3. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another, less mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell by
another, such as the change in ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified squamous
epithelium in the airways of chronic smokers.
4. What is the primary difference between necrosis and apoptosis?
A. Apoptosis is a programmed ‘cell suicide,’ whereas necrosis involves inflammatory
changes after cell death.
, B. Necrosis causes cell shrinkage, while apoptosis causes swelling.
C. Apoptosis is always pathological, while necrosis is always physiological.
D. Necrosis is programmed, while apoptosis is accidental.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is a distinct type of programmed cell death that is
generally ‘clean’ and does not trigger inflammation. Necrosis is cell death characterized by
cellular swelling and inflammation.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause tall, peaked T-waves on an EKG?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) affects cardiac conduction,
typically manifesting as tall peaked T-waves, widened QRS complexes, and potentially
cardiac arrest.
6. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, a PCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3 of 24 mEq/L. What is
the acid-base diagnosis?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
