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NR 412 EXAM 1: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Regis University – Additional Original
Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY, INJURY, AND ADAPTATION
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in
cell size?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size (and sometimes
number), reducing tissue mass. It occurs with disuse, ischemia,
malnutrition, aging, and denervation.
2. Which of the following is an example of pathologic atrophy?
A) Uterine involution after childbirth
B) Muscle wasting from prolonged immobilization
C) Breast enlargement during pregnancy
D) Thymus involution in childhood only
Answer: B
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Rationale: Muscle wasting from disuse is pathologic atrophy.
Uterine involution and thymus involution are physiologic.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves the replacement of one
mature cell type with another mature cell type?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation.
4. A smoker develops replacement of ciliated columnar
epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium in the bronchi.
This is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Answer: B
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Rationale: The replacement of bronchial ciliated columnar
epithelium with squamous epithelium in smokers is
metaplasia—an adaptive response to chronic irritation.
5. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial hyperplasia from excess estrogen
B) Breast glandular proliferation during puberty
C) Prostate hyperplasia in older men
D) Wart growth from HPV only
Answer: B
Rationale: Breast development during puberty is physiologic
hyperplasia. Endometrial and prostate hyperplasia are
pathologic.
6. Which of the following cells do NOT undergo hyperplasia
because they lack the ability to divide?
A) Epidermal cells
B) Cardiac myocytes
C) Hepatocytes
D) Intestinal epithelium only
Answer: B
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Rationale: Cardiac myocytes cannot divide significantly, so they
respond to stress with hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia.
7. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
is:
A) Physiologic hypertrophy
B) Pathologic hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia only
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy is
pathologic—an adaptive response to increased workload that
ultimately becomes harmful.
8. Which type of necrosis is characterized by the preservation of
tissue architecture with denaturation of proteins?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis only
Answer: B
NR 412 EXAM 1: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Regis University – Additional Original
Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY, INJURY, AND ADAPTATION
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in
cell size?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size (and sometimes
number), reducing tissue mass. It occurs with disuse, ischemia,
malnutrition, aging, and denervation.
2. Which of the following is an example of pathologic atrophy?
A) Uterine involution after childbirth
B) Muscle wasting from prolonged immobilization
C) Breast enlargement during pregnancy
D) Thymus involution in childhood only
Answer: B
, Page |2
Rationale: Muscle wasting from disuse is pathologic atrophy.
Uterine involution and thymus involution are physiologic.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves the replacement of one
mature cell type with another mature cell type?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation.
4. A smoker develops replacement of ciliated columnar
epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium in the bronchi.
This is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Answer: B
, Page |3
Rationale: The replacement of bronchial ciliated columnar
epithelium with squamous epithelium in smokers is
metaplasia—an adaptive response to chronic irritation.
5. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial hyperplasia from excess estrogen
B) Breast glandular proliferation during puberty
C) Prostate hyperplasia in older men
D) Wart growth from HPV only
Answer: B
Rationale: Breast development during puberty is physiologic
hyperplasia. Endometrial and prostate hyperplasia are
pathologic.
6. Which of the following cells do NOT undergo hyperplasia
because they lack the ability to divide?
A) Epidermal cells
B) Cardiac myocytes
C) Hepatocytes
D) Intestinal epithelium only
Answer: B
, Page |4
Rationale: Cardiac myocytes cannot divide significantly, so they
respond to stress with hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia.
7. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
is:
A) Physiologic hypertrophy
B) Pathologic hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia only
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy is
pathologic—an adaptive response to increased workload that
ultimately becomes harmful.
8. Which type of necrosis is characterized by the preservation of
tissue architecture with denaturation of proteins?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis only
Answer: B
