D236 Pathophysiology Midterm Study Guide 2026 |WGU
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of an organ’s cells, the entire organ shrinks.
2. An increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate of cellular
division is called:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, which
may then have increased volume.
,3. Which term describes the replacement of one mature cell type by another,
sometimes less differentiated, cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, such as the change in bronchial lining in smokers.
4. Programmed cell death is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Autolysis
C. Gangrene
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct type of cell death that is programmed and involves
dropping off of cellular fragments.
5. Which type of necrosis is most common in the heart and kidneys following
hypoxic injury?
A. Coagulative
B. Caseous
C. Fat
D. Liquefactive
Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from protein denaturation and is characteristic of
hypoxic injury in solid organs like the heart and kidney.
, 6. What is the primary extracellular cation responsible for regulating osmotic
forces?
A. Potassium
B. Magnesium
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the primary ECF cation and regulates water balance through its
osmotic effect.
7. A patient presents with a serum sodium level of 120 mEq/L. This condition is
known as:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyponatremia occurs when the serum sodium level is less than 135 mEq/L.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most closely associated with fatal cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypochloremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) can cause lethal cardiac rhythms due to its
effect on resting membrane potential.
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is the decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of an organ’s cells, the entire organ shrinks.
2. An increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased rate of cellular
division is called:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, which
may then have increased volume.
,3. Which term describes the replacement of one mature cell type by another,
sometimes less differentiated, cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, such as the change in bronchial lining in smokers.
4. Programmed cell death is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Autolysis
C. Gangrene
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct type of cell death that is programmed and involves
dropping off of cellular fragments.
5. Which type of necrosis is most common in the heart and kidneys following
hypoxic injury?
A. Coagulative
B. Caseous
C. Fat
D. Liquefactive
Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis results from protein denaturation and is characteristic of
hypoxic injury in solid organs like the heart and kidney.
, 6. What is the primary extracellular cation responsible for regulating osmotic
forces?
A. Potassium
B. Magnesium
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the primary ECF cation and regulates water balance through its
osmotic effect.
7. A patient presents with a serum sodium level of 120 mEq/L. This condition is
known as:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyponatremia occurs when the serum sodium level is less than 135 mEq/L.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most closely associated with fatal cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypochloremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) can cause lethal cardiac rhythms due to its
effect on resting membrane potential.
