Pathophysiology Exam 1 questions with correct assured solutions A+
Grade 2026\2027
Disease
- correct answer Causes changes in the ability of cells to carry out their vital functions. The "loss of
homeostasis" (governed by feedback loop)
Regulated variables
- correct answer Inputs that go towards the integrating center-afferent (ex. temperature, blood
pressure, glucose concentration) and have a physical receptor (ex. thermoreceptors, baroreceptors,
chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors)
Controlled variables
- correct answer The output responses (ex. vasoconstriction, vasodilation, increase heart rate, sweat
response, muscle contraction) occur via efferent pathway (away from control center)
Pathophysiology of heat stroke
- correct answer temperature increase --> increased CO --> vasodilation and increased blood flow to skin
--> decrease BP --> cell anoxia --> organ dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance --> anihydrosis --> body is
unable to cool itself --> hypoxic cell injury
Which of the following is a regulated variable:
a) Heart rate
b) Vasodilation
c) Blood pressure
d) Cardiac outpput
- correct answer C. blood pressure (baroreceptor is the physical receptor)
What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury/death?
- correct answer Massive calcium influx. This indicates that the cell will die
,Necrosis
- correct answer Cell death due to injury
Apoptosis
- correct answer cell death due to physiological turnover of cells
What morphologic changes are seen in reversible and irreversible cell injury?
- correct answer Blebbing/swelling, disruption of organelles, autophagy by lysosomes (cell is eaten from
inside out), Karyolysis, karyorrhexis, pyknosis (changes to nucleus)
True or False:
The removal of the stress can result in the return of an adapted cell back to its normal state.
- correct answer True.
True or False:
Irreversible cell injury results in cell death, and a cell that has undergone irreversible cell injury cannot
return to its normal state.
- correct answer True
True or False:
Reversible cell injury can result in irreversible cell injury; but, a cell that has undergone irreversible cell
injury cannot revert to a reversible cell injury state.
- correct answer True
Atrophy
- correct answer The shrinkage of tissue or organ to to a reduction in cell size. Cn be physiologic
(ex.changes in functional demand) or pathologic
, Hypertrophy
- correct answer An increase in cell size in response to stress. May be caused by hormonal stimulation
(ex. pregnancy) or increased functional demand (ex. LVH, muscle)
Hyperplasia
- correct answer An increase in the number of cells. Only dividing cells can undergo hyperplasia (ex.
epithelial cells)
Metaplasia
- correct answer a reversible process in which mature cell types are replaced by less mature cell types
(most common in epithelial and connective tissue) ex. in smokers, columnar ciliated epithelial cells are
replaced with flat squamous cells
Dysplasia
- correct answer disordered growth and maturation of the cellular components of tissue (change in size
and shape, nuclear enlargement, irregularity, disarray of arrangement)
After a period of inactivity, muscle becomes smaller in size. What term described this process?
- correct answer Atrophy
During the reproductive cycle in the female, hormonal stimulation increases the thickness of the
endometrial lining of the uterus by increasing the number of epithelial cells. What adaptation is this?
- correct answer Hyperplasia
Hypoxic cell injury
- correct answer Caused by limited oxygen (hypoxia) as a result of reduced blood flow (ischemia). Can
lead to a state of hypoglycemia (impairing energy production). Makes body switch from aerobic to
anaerobic metabolism (causing more lactic acid). Changes the pH (leading to damage). Limits ATP
production.
Free radical cell injury
- correct answer Caused by unpaired electrons, especially reactive oxygen species. It is normally
prevented by cell's protection systems. It is brought upon by excess ROS, which forms when oxygen is
limited
Grade 2026\2027
Disease
- correct answer Causes changes in the ability of cells to carry out their vital functions. The "loss of
homeostasis" (governed by feedback loop)
Regulated variables
- correct answer Inputs that go towards the integrating center-afferent (ex. temperature, blood
pressure, glucose concentration) and have a physical receptor (ex. thermoreceptors, baroreceptors,
chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors)
Controlled variables
- correct answer The output responses (ex. vasoconstriction, vasodilation, increase heart rate, sweat
response, muscle contraction) occur via efferent pathway (away from control center)
Pathophysiology of heat stroke
- correct answer temperature increase --> increased CO --> vasodilation and increased blood flow to skin
--> decrease BP --> cell anoxia --> organ dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance --> anihydrosis --> body is
unable to cool itself --> hypoxic cell injury
Which of the following is a regulated variable:
a) Heart rate
b) Vasodilation
c) Blood pressure
d) Cardiac outpput
- correct answer C. blood pressure (baroreceptor is the physical receptor)
What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury/death?
- correct answer Massive calcium influx. This indicates that the cell will die
,Necrosis
- correct answer Cell death due to injury
Apoptosis
- correct answer cell death due to physiological turnover of cells
What morphologic changes are seen in reversible and irreversible cell injury?
- correct answer Blebbing/swelling, disruption of organelles, autophagy by lysosomes (cell is eaten from
inside out), Karyolysis, karyorrhexis, pyknosis (changes to nucleus)
True or False:
The removal of the stress can result in the return of an adapted cell back to its normal state.
- correct answer True.
True or False:
Irreversible cell injury results in cell death, and a cell that has undergone irreversible cell injury cannot
return to its normal state.
- correct answer True
True or False:
Reversible cell injury can result in irreversible cell injury; but, a cell that has undergone irreversible cell
injury cannot revert to a reversible cell injury state.
- correct answer True
Atrophy
- correct answer The shrinkage of tissue or organ to to a reduction in cell size. Cn be physiologic
(ex.changes in functional demand) or pathologic
, Hypertrophy
- correct answer An increase in cell size in response to stress. May be caused by hormonal stimulation
(ex. pregnancy) or increased functional demand (ex. LVH, muscle)
Hyperplasia
- correct answer An increase in the number of cells. Only dividing cells can undergo hyperplasia (ex.
epithelial cells)
Metaplasia
- correct answer a reversible process in which mature cell types are replaced by less mature cell types
(most common in epithelial and connective tissue) ex. in smokers, columnar ciliated epithelial cells are
replaced with flat squamous cells
Dysplasia
- correct answer disordered growth and maturation of the cellular components of tissue (change in size
and shape, nuclear enlargement, irregularity, disarray of arrangement)
After a period of inactivity, muscle becomes smaller in size. What term described this process?
- correct answer Atrophy
During the reproductive cycle in the female, hormonal stimulation increases the thickness of the
endometrial lining of the uterus by increasing the number of epithelial cells. What adaptation is this?
- correct answer Hyperplasia
Hypoxic cell injury
- correct answer Caused by limited oxygen (hypoxia) as a result of reduced blood flow (ischemia). Can
lead to a state of hypoglycemia (impairing energy production). Makes body switch from aerobic to
anaerobic metabolism (causing more lactic acid). Changes the pH (leading to damage). Limits ATP
production.
Free radical cell injury
- correct answer Caused by unpaired electrons, especially reactive oxygen species. It is normally
prevented by cell's protection systems. It is brought upon by excess ROS, which forms when oxygen is
limited
