RASMUSSEN PATHO EXAM 2 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS RASMUSSEN
PATHO EXAM S ALREADY GRADED A 2026-
2027.
Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in size
because individual cells become larger?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an adaptive response characterized by an
increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in enlargement of the
affected tissue or organ. It commonly occurs when cells are exposed to
increased workload or stimulation. For example, skeletal muscle fibers
enlarge with resistance exercise because the existing cells increase their
protein content and structural components. Cardiac muscle can also
undergo hypertrophy when the heart must pump against increased
pressure, such as in chronic hypertension.
A patient develops redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around an
injured area shortly after trauma. Which process is primarily
responsible for these findings?
A. Acute inflammation
B. Cellular atrophy
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,C. Fibrosis
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: A. Acute inflammation
Rationale: Acute inflammation is the body's rapid protective response
to tissue injury or infection. Increased blood flow produces redness and
warmth, while increased vascular permeability allows fluid and proteins
to move into the interstitial space, producing swelling. Inflammatory
mediators also stimulate sensory nerve endings, contributing to pain.
The overall purpose of acute inflammation is to eliminate the damaging
stimulus and begin tissue repair.
Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with myocardial
infarction?
A. Fat necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: C. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the characteristic pattern of cell
death that occurs following ischemic injury in most solid organs,
including the heart. During this process, the basic tissue architecture
remains recognizable for a period of time even though the cells have
died. In myocardial infarction, interruption of coronary blood flow
deprives cardiac muscle of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in
irreversible cellular injury and eventually coagulative necrosis.
Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to occur with prolonged
vomiting?
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,A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperphosphatemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting can contribute to potassium depletion
through direct gastrointestinal losses and through renal mechanisms
associated with volume depletion. Loss of gastric hydrochloric acid also
contributes to metabolic alkalosis, which promotes intracellular
movement of potassium. Significant hypokalemia can impair
neuromuscular and cardiac function, potentially producing weakness,
muscle cramps, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Which inflammatory mediator is primarily responsible for increasing
vascular permeability during the early phase of acute inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine is an important early mediator of acute
inflammation. It is released primarily from mast cells and causes
dilation of small blood vessels and increased vascular permeability. This
allows plasma proteins and fluid to move into surrounding tissues. The
resulting fluid accumulation contributes to edema, which is one of the
classic manifestations of inflammation.
Page 3 of 80
, A patient has a persistent elevation in blood glucose caused by
inadequate insulin activity. Which metabolic disorder does this finding
most strongly indicate?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Addison disease
Correct Answer: C. Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia
resulting from impaired insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or
both. Insulin normally promotes glucose uptake and utilization by many
tissues and suppresses excessive hepatic glucose production. When
insulin is absent or ineffective, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream,
producing hyperglycemia. Persistent hyperglycemia can eventually
damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and other organs.
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the edema associated
with increased hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries?
A. Increased plasma protein concentration
B. Movement of fluid out of the vascular space
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Decreased capillary filtration
Correct Answer: B. Movement of fluid out of the vascular space
Rationale: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure favors movement of
fluid from the intravascular compartment into the interstitial space. This
mechanism contributes to edema in conditions such as congestive heart
failure, where venous pressure can rise and increase capillary
Page 4 of 80
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS RASMUSSEN
PATHO EXAM S ALREADY GRADED A 2026-
2027.
Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in size
because individual cells become larger?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an adaptive response characterized by an
increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in enlargement of the
affected tissue or organ. It commonly occurs when cells are exposed to
increased workload or stimulation. For example, skeletal muscle fibers
enlarge with resistance exercise because the existing cells increase their
protein content and structural components. Cardiac muscle can also
undergo hypertrophy when the heart must pump against increased
pressure, such as in chronic hypertension.
A patient develops redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around an
injured area shortly after trauma. Which process is primarily
responsible for these findings?
A. Acute inflammation
B. Cellular atrophy
Page 1 of 80
,C. Fibrosis
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: A. Acute inflammation
Rationale: Acute inflammation is the body's rapid protective response
to tissue injury or infection. Increased blood flow produces redness and
warmth, while increased vascular permeability allows fluid and proteins
to move into the interstitial space, producing swelling. Inflammatory
mediators also stimulate sensory nerve endings, contributing to pain.
The overall purpose of acute inflammation is to eliminate the damaging
stimulus and begin tissue repair.
Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with myocardial
infarction?
A. Fat necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Correct Answer: C. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the characteristic pattern of cell
death that occurs following ischemic injury in most solid organs,
including the heart. During this process, the basic tissue architecture
remains recognizable for a period of time even though the cells have
died. In myocardial infarction, interruption of coronary blood flow
deprives cardiac muscle of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in
irreversible cellular injury and eventually coagulative necrosis.
Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to occur with prolonged
vomiting?
Page 2 of 80
,A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperphosphatemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting can contribute to potassium depletion
through direct gastrointestinal losses and through renal mechanisms
associated with volume depletion. Loss of gastric hydrochloric acid also
contributes to metabolic alkalosis, which promotes intracellular
movement of potassium. Significant hypokalemia can impair
neuromuscular and cardiac function, potentially producing weakness,
muscle cramps, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Which inflammatory mediator is primarily responsible for increasing
vascular permeability during the early phase of acute inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine is an important early mediator of acute
inflammation. It is released primarily from mast cells and causes
dilation of small blood vessels and increased vascular permeability. This
allows plasma proteins and fluid to move into surrounding tissues. The
resulting fluid accumulation contributes to edema, which is one of the
classic manifestations of inflammation.
Page 3 of 80
, A patient has a persistent elevation in blood glucose caused by
inadequate insulin activity. Which metabolic disorder does this finding
most strongly indicate?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Addison disease
Correct Answer: C. Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia
resulting from impaired insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or
both. Insulin normally promotes glucose uptake and utilization by many
tissues and suppresses excessive hepatic glucose production. When
insulin is absent or ineffective, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream,
producing hyperglycemia. Persistent hyperglycemia can eventually
damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and other organs.
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the edema associated
with increased hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries?
A. Increased plasma protein concentration
B. Movement of fluid out of the vascular space
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Decreased capillary filtration
Correct Answer: B. Movement of fluid out of the vascular space
Rationale: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure favors movement of
fluid from the intravascular compartment into the interstitial space. This
mechanism contributes to edema in conditions such as congestive heart
failure, where venous pressure can rise and increase capillary
Page 4 of 80
