,USU MSN 570 Week 2 Content Quiz | Advanced
Pathophysiology (2026) Q&A
1. Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of cellular injury in
hypoxia?
A) Decreased ATP production
B) Increased ATP production
C) Enhanced protein synthesis
D) Stimulated DNA repair
Correct Answer: A) Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased oxidative phosphorylation and ATP depletion, which
impairs the sodium-potassium pump and other ion transporters, causing loss of ion
homeostasis and cellular swelling. This is a key mechanism of hypoxic cell injury.
2. A patient with chronic hypoxia is most likely to exhibit which cellular adaptation?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: D) Atrophy
Rationale: Chronic hypoxia often leads to atrophy as cells reduce their size and metabolic
activity to survive in a low-oxygen environment. Hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and metaplasia
are different adaptive responses to other types of stress.
3. During necrosis, what are the characteristic cellular changes?
A) Cells condense and shrink with membrane blebbing
,B) Cells swell and burst with release of cellular contents
C) Cells undergo nuclear fragmentation only
D) Cells maintain membrane integrity throughout the process
Correct Answer: B) Cells swell and burst with release of cellular contents
Rationale: Necrosis is characterized by cellular swelling, organelle dysfunction, membrane
rupture, and release of cellular contents into the extracellular space, triggering an
inflammatory response. In contrast, apoptosis involves cell shrinkage and membrane
blebbing.
4. What is the correct sequence of nuclear changes in necrosis?
A) Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis, Karyolysis
B) Karyolysis, Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis
C) Karyorrhexis, Pyknosis, Karyolysis
D) Pyknosis, Karyolysis, Karyorrhexis
Correct Answer: A) Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis, Karyolysis
Rationale: The sequence of nuclear changes in necrosis is pyknosis (nuclear condensation),
followed by karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation), and finally karyolysis (nuclear
dissolution). Understanding this sequence is essential for identifying necrotic tissue.
5. Which of the following is an example of physiological hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle
B) Cardiac hypertrophy in response to hypertension
C) Atrophy of skeletal muscle after immobilization
D) Metaplasia of bronchial epithelium in smokers
Correct Answer: A) Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle
, Rationale: Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle is a normal, physiological
example of hyperplasia driven by hormonal stimulation. Cardiac hypertrophy is an example
of hypertrophy, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is a change in cell type.
6. What is the best description of metaplasia?
A) An increase in the number of cells
B) An increase in cell size
C) The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
D) A decrease in cell size
Correct Answer: C) The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, often in response to chronic irritation. It is not an increase in cell number or
size, nor a decrease in cell size.
7. Which cellular adaptation is considered a true premalignant lesion?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cellular growth and differentiation and is
considered a true premalignant lesion. Metaplasia is a reversible change that can sometimes
progress to dysplasia but is not itself premalignant.
8. A patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presents with jaundice, ascites, and
confusion. Which of the following is the most likely underlying pathophysiological process?
A) Acute pancreatitis
Pathophysiology (2026) Q&A
1. Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of cellular injury in
hypoxia?
A) Decreased ATP production
B) Increased ATP production
C) Enhanced protein synthesis
D) Stimulated DNA repair
Correct Answer: A) Decreased ATP production
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased oxidative phosphorylation and ATP depletion, which
impairs the sodium-potassium pump and other ion transporters, causing loss of ion
homeostasis and cellular swelling. This is a key mechanism of hypoxic cell injury.
2. A patient with chronic hypoxia is most likely to exhibit which cellular adaptation?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: D) Atrophy
Rationale: Chronic hypoxia often leads to atrophy as cells reduce their size and metabolic
activity to survive in a low-oxygen environment. Hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and metaplasia
are different adaptive responses to other types of stress.
3. During necrosis, what are the characteristic cellular changes?
A) Cells condense and shrink with membrane blebbing
,B) Cells swell and burst with release of cellular contents
C) Cells undergo nuclear fragmentation only
D) Cells maintain membrane integrity throughout the process
Correct Answer: B) Cells swell and burst with release of cellular contents
Rationale: Necrosis is characterized by cellular swelling, organelle dysfunction, membrane
rupture, and release of cellular contents into the extracellular space, triggering an
inflammatory response. In contrast, apoptosis involves cell shrinkage and membrane
blebbing.
4. What is the correct sequence of nuclear changes in necrosis?
A) Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis, Karyolysis
B) Karyolysis, Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis
C) Karyorrhexis, Pyknosis, Karyolysis
D) Pyknosis, Karyolysis, Karyorrhexis
Correct Answer: A) Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis, Karyolysis
Rationale: The sequence of nuclear changes in necrosis is pyknosis (nuclear condensation),
followed by karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation), and finally karyolysis (nuclear
dissolution). Understanding this sequence is essential for identifying necrotic tissue.
5. Which of the following is an example of physiological hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle
B) Cardiac hypertrophy in response to hypertension
C) Atrophy of skeletal muscle after immobilization
D) Metaplasia of bronchial epithelium in smokers
Correct Answer: A) Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle
, Rationale: Endometrial proliferation during the menstrual cycle is a normal, physiological
example of hyperplasia driven by hormonal stimulation. Cardiac hypertrophy is an example
of hypertrophy, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is a change in cell type.
6. What is the best description of metaplasia?
A) An increase in the number of cells
B) An increase in cell size
C) The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
D) A decrease in cell size
Correct Answer: C) The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type, often in response to chronic irritation. It is not an increase in cell number or
size, nor a decrease in cell size.
7. Which cellular adaptation is considered a true premalignant lesion?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cellular growth and differentiation and is
considered a true premalignant lesion. Metaplasia is a reversible change that can sometimes
progress to dysplasia but is not itself premalignant.
8. A patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presents with jaundice, ascites, and
confusion. Which of the following is the most likely underlying pathophysiological process?
A) Acute pancreatitis
