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NUR2063 ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Cellular Biology & Genetics, Immune & Fluid Balance,
Systemic Pathophysiology Original Exam Questions with Answers and Rationales
(Questions)
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops an increase in
the size of cardiac muscle cells. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased workload or hormonal stimulation. Chronic
hypertension forces the heart to pump against higher
pressure, causing cardiomyocytes to enlarge.
2. A patient with a leg cast for 6 weeks develops thinning of
the calf muscles. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to disuse,
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ischemia, or loss of innervation. Immobilization in a cast leads
to muscle atrophy from lack of use.
3. A patient with chronic GERD develops replacement of
squamous epithelium in the distal esophagus with columnar
epithelium. This is:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Answer: B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
mature cell type is replaced by another. In Barrett’s
esophagus, chronic acid exposure causes squamous cells to be
replaced by columnar cells.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark of reversible cell
injury?
A) Karyorrhexis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Pyknosis
D) Karyolysis
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Answer: B) Cellular swelling
Rationale: Reversible cell injury is characterized by cellular
swelling (hydropic change) due to failure of Na+/K+ pumps.
Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis) indicate
irreversible injury.
5. The earliest cellular change in irreversible cell injury is:
A) Fatty change
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction
C) Cellular swelling
D) Membrane blebbing
Answer: B) Mitochondrial dysfunction
Rationale: Irreversible injury is marked by severe
mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to ATP depletion, calcium
influx, and activation of degradative enzymes. Cellular
swelling is reversible.
6. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
A) Brain infarction
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
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Answer: B) Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in most solid organs
(heart, kidney, liver) due to ischemia, except the brain. The
tissue architecture is preserved temporarily. Brain infarction
causes liquefactive necrosis.
7. Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of:
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Cerebral infarction
C) Renal infarction
D) Skeletal muscle injury
Answer: B) Cerebral infarction
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because
the tissue is rich in hydrolytic enzymes and has little
supporting connective tissue, leading to liquefaction of
necrotic cells.
8. Caseous necrosis is most often associated with:
A) Staphylococcus infection
B) Tuberculosis
C) Ischemic injury
D) Burns
NUR2063 ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Cellular Biology & Genetics, Immune & Fluid Balance,
Systemic Pathophysiology Original Exam Questions with Answers and Rationales
(Questions)
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops an increase in
the size of cardiac muscle cells. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased workload or hormonal stimulation. Chronic
hypertension forces the heart to pump against higher
pressure, causing cardiomyocytes to enlarge.
2. A patient with a leg cast for 6 weeks develops thinning of
the calf muscles. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to disuse,
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
ischemia, or loss of innervation. Immobilization in a cast leads
to muscle atrophy from lack of use.
3. A patient with chronic GERD develops replacement of
squamous epithelium in the distal esophagus with columnar
epithelium. This is:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Answer: B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
mature cell type is replaced by another. In Barrett’s
esophagus, chronic acid exposure causes squamous cells to be
replaced by columnar cells.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark of reversible cell
injury?
A) Karyorrhexis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Pyknosis
D) Karyolysis
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
Answer: B) Cellular swelling
Rationale: Reversible cell injury is characterized by cellular
swelling (hydropic change) due to failure of Na+/K+ pumps.
Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis) indicate
irreversible injury.
5. The earliest cellular change in irreversible cell injury is:
A) Fatty change
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction
C) Cellular swelling
D) Membrane blebbing
Answer: B) Mitochondrial dysfunction
Rationale: Irreversible injury is marked by severe
mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to ATP depletion, calcium
influx, and activation of degradative enzymes. Cellular
swelling is reversible.
6. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
A) Brain infarction
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Pancreatitis
D) Tuberculosis
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
Answer: B) Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in most solid organs
(heart, kidney, liver) due to ischemia, except the brain. The
tissue architecture is preserved temporarily. Brain infarction
causes liquefactive necrosis.
7. Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of:
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Cerebral infarction
C) Renal infarction
D) Skeletal muscle injury
Answer: B) Cerebral infarction
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because
the tissue is rich in hydrolytic enzymes and has little
supporting connective tissue, leading to liquefaction of
necrotic cells.
8. Caseous necrosis is most often associated with:
A) Staphylococcus infection
B) Tuberculosis
C) Ischemic injury
D) Burns
