WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OA V2 — SET 1 EXAM WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. A client has cellular hypertrophy. Which change has occurred?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in enlargement of
the affected tissue or organ.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells increase in number?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue. It may occur because of
hormonal stimulation or increased workload.
3. A client has prolonged immobilization of a limb. Which cellular adaptation is most
likely?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and functional capacity. Disuse, such as prolonged
immobilization, commonly causes skeletal muscle atrophy.
,4. What is metaplasia?
A. Uncontrolled cell division
B. Increase in cell size
C. Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another
D. Irreversible cell death
Answer: C. Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive response in which one differentiated cell type is replaced
by another that may better tolerate chronic stress.
5. Which finding is characteristic of apoptosis?
A. Severe inflammation
B. Cell swelling and rupture
C. Programmed cell death
D. Uncontrolled tissue destruction
Answer: C. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that normally occurs without
significant inflammation.
6. Which condition is most likely to cause cellular hypoxia?
A. Increased oxygen delivery
B. Severe anemia
C. Increased hemoglobin
D. Hyperventilation
Answer: B. Severe anemia
Rationale: Anemia reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, which can result in inadequate
oxygen delivery to tissues.
7. During ischemia, which cellular problem occurs first?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased ATP production
,C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased oxygen availability
Answer: B. Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery, impairing oxidative
phosphorylation and reducing ATP production.
8. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing cellular ATP?
A. Lysosome
B. Nucleus
C. Mitochondrion
D. Ribosome
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
9. Which electrolyte is the major extracellular cation?
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Phosphate
Answer: B. Sodium
Rationale: Sodium is the principal extracellular cation and plays a major role in extracellular
fluid volume and osmolality.
10. Which electrolyte is the major intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium
D. Chloride
Answer: C. Potassium
, Rationale: Potassium is the primary intracellular cation and is essential for membrane
potentials and neuromuscular function.
11. Which vascular change is characteristic of acute inflammation?
A. Vasoconstriction only
B. Increased vascular permeability
C. Decreased blood flow permanently
D. Reduced leukocyte movement
Answer: B. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Acute inflammation causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability,
allowing plasma proteins and leukocytes to move into affected tissues.
12. Which leukocyte is typically one of the first responders during acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Basophil
D. B lymphocyte
Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are prominent early responders in acute inflammation, particularly with
bacterial infections.
13. Which substance is strongly associated with vasodilation and increased vascular
permeability?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells contributes to vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability during acute inflammation.
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. A client has cellular hypertrophy. Which change has occurred?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in enlargement of
the affected tissue or organ.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells increase in number?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue. It may occur because of
hormonal stimulation or increased workload.
3. A client has prolonged immobilization of a limb. Which cellular adaptation is most
likely?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and functional capacity. Disuse, such as prolonged
immobilization, commonly causes skeletal muscle atrophy.
,4. What is metaplasia?
A. Uncontrolled cell division
B. Increase in cell size
C. Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another
D. Irreversible cell death
Answer: C. Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive response in which one differentiated cell type is replaced
by another that may better tolerate chronic stress.
5. Which finding is characteristic of apoptosis?
A. Severe inflammation
B. Cell swelling and rupture
C. Programmed cell death
D. Uncontrolled tissue destruction
Answer: C. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that normally occurs without
significant inflammation.
6. Which condition is most likely to cause cellular hypoxia?
A. Increased oxygen delivery
B. Severe anemia
C. Increased hemoglobin
D. Hyperventilation
Answer: B. Severe anemia
Rationale: Anemia reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, which can result in inadequate
oxygen delivery to tissues.
7. During ischemia, which cellular problem occurs first?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased ATP production
,C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased oxygen availability
Answer: B. Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery, impairing oxidative
phosphorylation and reducing ATP production.
8. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing cellular ATP?
A. Lysosome
B. Nucleus
C. Mitochondrion
D. Ribosome
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
9. Which electrolyte is the major extracellular cation?
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Phosphate
Answer: B. Sodium
Rationale: Sodium is the principal extracellular cation and plays a major role in extracellular
fluid volume and osmolality.
10. Which electrolyte is the major intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium
D. Chloride
Answer: C. Potassium
, Rationale: Potassium is the primary intracellular cation and is essential for membrane
potentials and neuromuscular function.
11. Which vascular change is characteristic of acute inflammation?
A. Vasoconstriction only
B. Increased vascular permeability
C. Decreased blood flow permanently
D. Reduced leukocyte movement
Answer: B. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Acute inflammation causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability,
allowing plasma proteins and leukocytes to move into affected tissues.
12. Which leukocyte is typically one of the first responders during acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Basophil
D. B lymphocyte
Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are prominent early responders in acute inflammation, particularly with
bacterial infections.
13. Which substance is strongly associated with vasodilation and increased vascular
permeability?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells contributes to vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability during acute inflammation.
