D236 Pathophysiology Comprehensive Final Exam Review 2026 |WGU
1. What is the primary characteristic of cellular atrophy?
A. Increase in the number of cells
B. Abnormal change in size, shape, and organization
C. Replacement of one cell type with another
D. Decrease in cell size
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size caused by loss of cell substance, often due
to disuse, ischemia, or nutrient starvation.
2. An increase in the size of the heart’s left ventricle in response to high blood
pressure is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the
size of the organ, typically seen in cardiac or skeletal muscle.
3. Which cellular adaptation is considered a precursor to cancer?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
,Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells and is often considered a pre-cancerous state.
4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical agents
C. Genetic defects
D. Nutritional imbalances
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is the single most common cause of cellular
injury and death.
5. Programmed cell death that is a normal part of development and
homeostasis is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Necrosis
D. Ischemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction that is essential for
normal tissue development.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause peaked T-waves on an
ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: C
, Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) affects the repolarization of the heart, resulting
in tall, peaked T-waves.
7. A patient presents with deep, rapid respirations (Kussmaul breathing). This is
a compensatory mechanism for:
A. Metabolic Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Acidosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: In metabolic acidosis, the lungs compensate by blowing off CO2 (an acid)
through rapid, deep breathing to raise the pH.
8. Which plasma protein is primarily responsible for maintaining oncotic
pressure?
A. Globulin
B. Albumin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and provides the osmotic pull
that keeps fluid within the vasculature.
9. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction involves IgE and mast cell
degranulation?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Answer: A
1. What is the primary characteristic of cellular atrophy?
A. Increase in the number of cells
B. Abnormal change in size, shape, and organization
C. Replacement of one cell type with another
D. Decrease in cell size
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size caused by loss of cell substance, often due
to disuse, ischemia, or nutrient starvation.
2. An increase in the size of the heart’s left ventricle in response to high blood
pressure is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the
size of the organ, typically seen in cardiac or skeletal muscle.
3. Which cellular adaptation is considered a precursor to cancer?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
,Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells and is often considered a pre-cancerous state.
4. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical agents
C. Genetic defects
D. Nutritional imbalances
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is the single most common cause of cellular
injury and death.
5. Programmed cell death that is a normal part of development and
homeostasis is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Necrosis
D. Ischemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction that is essential for
normal tissue development.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause peaked T-waves on an
ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: C
, Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) affects the repolarization of the heart, resulting
in tall, peaked T-waves.
7. A patient presents with deep, rapid respirations (Kussmaul breathing). This is
a compensatory mechanism for:
A. Metabolic Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Acidosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: In metabolic acidosis, the lungs compensate by blowing off CO2 (an acid)
through rapid, deep breathing to raise the pH.
8. Which plasma protein is primarily responsible for maintaining oncotic
pressure?
A. Globulin
B. Albumin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and provides the osmotic pull
that keeps fluid within the vasculature.
9. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction involves IgE and mast cell
degranulation?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Answer: A
