MSN 570 Advanced Pathophysiology —
Comprehensive Study Guide Questions
and Verified Answers for Cellular Injury,
Inflammation, Immunity & Genetics
(Fall 2025/2026)
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION &
INFLAMMATION
Questions 1–15
1. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size without an increase in cell
number?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, commonly occurring
when cells are exposed to increased workload.
2. A patient develops enlargement of skeletal muscle fibers after resistance training.
Which process best explains this change?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Increased workload stimulates enlargement of existing skeletal muscle fibers,
producing hypertrophy.
,3. Which process describes replacement of one mature differentiated cell type by
another mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Necrosis
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a potentially reversible adaptive change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another better able to tolerate the environmental stress.
4. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, regulated cell death without
significant inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Ischemia
Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death and generally does not provoke the
inflammatory response associated with necrotic cell injury.
5. Which finding is most characteristic of irreversible cell injury?
A. Mild cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
D. Temporary reduction in ATP production
Answer: C. Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
Rationale: Severe mitochondrial damage with inability to restore ATP production is
associated with irreversible cell injury.
6. A patient experiences tissue injury after prolonged interruption of blood flow. What
is the primary pathophysiologic process?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Ischemia
,C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Ischemia
Rationale: Ischemia occurs when blood flow to tissue is inadequate, reducing oxygen and
nutrient delivery and impairing removal of metabolic waste.
7. Which intracellular change commonly occurs during early reversible cellular injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear fragmentation
C. Membrane rupture
D. Complete mitochondrial destruction
Answer: A. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Failure of ATP-dependent ion pumps causes sodium and water to accumulate
intracellularly, producing cellular swelling.
8. Which organelle is primarily responsible for generating cellular ATP through
oxidative phosphorylation?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Golgi apparatus
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
9. Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with fever development?
A. Histamine
B. Prostaglandins
C. Albumin
D. Insulin
Answer: B. Prostaglandins
Rationale: Prostaglandin E2 contributes to elevation of the hypothalamic temperature set
point during inflammatory responses.
, 10. Which leukocyte is typically prominent during the early phase of acute
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Erythrocyte
C. Platelet
D. Plasma cell
Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are important early responders in acute inflammatory reactions.
11. Histamine contributes to acute inflammation primarily by causing:
A. Reduced vascular permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Suppression of leukocyte migration
Answer: B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased permeability of postcapillary
venules, facilitating movement of fluid and inflammatory cells into tissues.
12. What is the primary purpose of inflammation?
A. Permanently destroy surrounding tissue
B. Eliminate the inciting agent and initiate tissue repair
C. Prevent immune-cell migration
D. Stop blood flow to affected tissue
Answer: B. Eliminate the inciting agent and initiate tissue repair
Rationale: Inflammation is a protective response intended to remove harmful stimuli and
begin restoration of tissue integrity.
13. Which feature is most characteristic of chronic inflammation?
A. Predominantly neutrophilic response only
B. Short duration
C. Mononuclear cell infiltration and tissue destruction
D. Absence of tissue repair
Comprehensive Study Guide Questions
and Verified Answers for Cellular Injury,
Inflammation, Immunity & Genetics
(Fall 2025/2026)
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION &
INFLAMMATION
Questions 1–15
1. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size without an increase in cell
number?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, commonly occurring
when cells are exposed to increased workload.
2. A patient develops enlargement of skeletal muscle fibers after resistance training.
Which process best explains this change?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Increased workload stimulates enlargement of existing skeletal muscle fibers,
producing hypertrophy.
,3. Which process describes replacement of one mature differentiated cell type by
another mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Necrosis
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a potentially reversible adaptive change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another better able to tolerate the environmental stress.
4. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, regulated cell death without
significant inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Ischemia
Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death and generally does not provoke the
inflammatory response associated with necrotic cell injury.
5. Which finding is most characteristic of irreversible cell injury?
A. Mild cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
D. Temporary reduction in ATP production
Answer: C. Severe mitochondrial dysfunction
Rationale: Severe mitochondrial damage with inability to restore ATP production is
associated with irreversible cell injury.
6. A patient experiences tissue injury after prolonged interruption of blood flow. What
is the primary pathophysiologic process?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Ischemia
,C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Ischemia
Rationale: Ischemia occurs when blood flow to tissue is inadequate, reducing oxygen and
nutrient delivery and impairing removal of metabolic waste.
7. Which intracellular change commonly occurs during early reversible cellular injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear fragmentation
C. Membrane rupture
D. Complete mitochondrial destruction
Answer: A. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Failure of ATP-dependent ion pumps causes sodium and water to accumulate
intracellularly, producing cellular swelling.
8. Which organelle is primarily responsible for generating cellular ATP through
oxidative phosphorylation?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Golgi apparatus
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
9. Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with fever development?
A. Histamine
B. Prostaglandins
C. Albumin
D. Insulin
Answer: B. Prostaglandins
Rationale: Prostaglandin E2 contributes to elevation of the hypothalamic temperature set
point during inflammatory responses.
, 10. Which leukocyte is typically prominent during the early phase of acute
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Erythrocyte
C. Platelet
D. Plasma cell
Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are important early responders in acute inflammatory reactions.
11. Histamine contributes to acute inflammation primarily by causing:
A. Reduced vascular permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Suppression of leukocyte migration
Answer: B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased permeability of postcapillary
venules, facilitating movement of fluid and inflammatory cells into tissues.
12. What is the primary purpose of inflammation?
A. Permanently destroy surrounding tissue
B. Eliminate the inciting agent and initiate tissue repair
C. Prevent immune-cell migration
D. Stop blood flow to affected tissue
Answer: B. Eliminate the inciting agent and initiate tissue repair
Rationale: Inflammation is a protective response intended to remove harmful stimuli and
begin restoration of tissue integrity.
13. Which feature is most characteristic of chronic inflammation?
A. Predominantly neutrophilic response only
B. Short duration
C. Mononuclear cell infiltration and tissue destruction
D. Absence of tissue repair
