Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Comprehensive Practice Question Bank
500 Original Multiple-Choice Questions with Answer Keys & Rationales
10 Topic Chapters • 50 Questions Each
Covering cellular pathology, genetics, immunology, neoplasia, and the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal,
endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems
Original Study Material — Prepared 2026
1
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Death
Chapter 2: Genetics & Congenital Disorders
Chapter 3: Inflammation, Immunity & Infection
Chapter 4: Neoplasia
Chapter 5: Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
Chapter 6: Respiratory Pathophysiology
Chapter 7: Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
Chapter 8: Endocrine Pathophysiology
Chapter 9: Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology
Chapter 10: Neurological & Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology
2
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
Chapter 1: Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Death
1. Which of the following best describes hypertrophy?
A) An increase in the number of cells in a tissue
B) An increase in the size of individual cells
C) A decrease in cell size due to reduced workload
D) Replacement of one cell type with another
2. Skeletal muscle enlargement in a weightlifter is an example of:
A) Pathologic hyperplasia
B) Physiologic hypertrophy
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
3. Which cellular adaptation involves replacement of one differentiated cell type by another?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
4. Chronic exposure of the respiratory epithelium to cigarette smoke often causes replacement of ciliated
columnar cells with squamous cells. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Squamous metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
5. Which of the following is a reversible cell injury change?
A) Karyolysis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Coagulative necrosis
D) Pyknosis
6. Irreversible cell injury is characterized by:
A) Ribosomal detachment from the endoplasmic reticulum
B) Mitochondrial swelling only
C) Massive influx of calcium and membrane rupture
D) Decreased ATP production with normal membrane integrity
7. Hypoxic cell injury most directly impairs which cellular process first?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Oxidative phosphorylation
C) DNA replication
D) Lysosomal enzyme release
8. A decrease in intracellular ATP during hypoxia leads to which early change?
A) Increased Na+/K+ ATPase activity
B) Cellular swelling due to failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C) Nuclear fragmentation
3
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
D) Immediate cell death
9. Free radicals cause cell injury primarily through:
A) Direct DNA repair
B) Lipid peroxidation of cell membranes
C) Enhancing antioxidant defenses
D) Stabilizing mitochondrial membranes
10. Which of the following is an endogenous antioxidant enzyme?
A) Superoxide dismutase
B) Catalase inhibitor
C) Xanthine oxidase
D) Cyclooxygenase
11. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of infarction in which organ?
A) Brain
B) Heart
C) Skin (in abscess)
D) Pancreas
12. Liquefactive necrosis is typically seen in:
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Cerebral infarction
C) Tuberculosis granulomas
D) Fat necrosis
13. Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with:
A) Bacterial pneumonia
B) Tuberculosis
C) Acute pancreatitis
D) Ischemic bowel
14. Fat necrosis is classically seen in which condition?
A) Acute pancreatitis
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Cerebral stroke
D) Gangrene
15. Gangrenous necrosis with bacterial superinfection is termed:
A) Dry gangrene
B) Wet gangrene
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fibrinoid necrosis
16. Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that apoptosis:
A) Always triggers a strong inflammatory response
B) Is an energy-independent process
C) Is a programmed, energy-dependent form of cell death
D) Causes cell membrane rupture and leakage of contents
17. Which morphologic feature is characteristic of apoptosis rather than necrosis?
A) Cell swelling
4
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Comprehensive Practice Question Bank
500 Original Multiple-Choice Questions with Answer Keys & Rationales
10 Topic Chapters • 50 Questions Each
Covering cellular pathology, genetics, immunology, neoplasia, and the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal,
endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems
Original Study Material — Prepared 2026
1
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Death
Chapter 2: Genetics & Congenital Disorders
Chapter 3: Inflammation, Immunity & Infection
Chapter 4: Neoplasia
Chapter 5: Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
Chapter 6: Respiratory Pathophysiology
Chapter 7: Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
Chapter 8: Endocrine Pathophysiology
Chapter 9: Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology
Chapter 10: Neurological & Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology
2
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
Chapter 1: Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Death
1. Which of the following best describes hypertrophy?
A) An increase in the number of cells in a tissue
B) An increase in the size of individual cells
C) A decrease in cell size due to reduced workload
D) Replacement of one cell type with another
2. Skeletal muscle enlargement in a weightlifter is an example of:
A) Pathologic hyperplasia
B) Physiologic hypertrophy
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
3. Which cellular adaptation involves replacement of one differentiated cell type by another?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
4. Chronic exposure of the respiratory epithelium to cigarette smoke often causes replacement of ciliated
columnar cells with squamous cells. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Squamous metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
5. Which of the following is a reversible cell injury change?
A) Karyolysis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Coagulative necrosis
D) Pyknosis
6. Irreversible cell injury is characterized by:
A) Ribosomal detachment from the endoplasmic reticulum
B) Mitochondrial swelling only
C) Massive influx of calcium and membrane rupture
D) Decreased ATP production with normal membrane integrity
7. Hypoxic cell injury most directly impairs which cellular process first?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Oxidative phosphorylation
C) DNA replication
D) Lysosomal enzyme release
8. A decrease in intracellular ATP during hypoxia leads to which early change?
A) Increased Na+/K+ ATPase activity
B) Cellular swelling due to failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C) Nuclear fragmentation
3
, Pathophysiology Practice Question Bank
D) Immediate cell death
9. Free radicals cause cell injury primarily through:
A) Direct DNA repair
B) Lipid peroxidation of cell membranes
C) Enhancing antioxidant defenses
D) Stabilizing mitochondrial membranes
10. Which of the following is an endogenous antioxidant enzyme?
A) Superoxide dismutase
B) Catalase inhibitor
C) Xanthine oxidase
D) Cyclooxygenase
11. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of infarction in which organ?
A) Brain
B) Heart
C) Skin (in abscess)
D) Pancreas
12. Liquefactive necrosis is typically seen in:
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Cerebral infarction
C) Tuberculosis granulomas
D) Fat necrosis
13. Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with:
A) Bacterial pneumonia
B) Tuberculosis
C) Acute pancreatitis
D) Ischemic bowel
14. Fat necrosis is classically seen in which condition?
A) Acute pancreatitis
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Cerebral stroke
D) Gangrene
15. Gangrenous necrosis with bacterial superinfection is termed:
A) Dry gangrene
B) Wet gangrene
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fibrinoid necrosis
16. Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that apoptosis:
A) Always triggers a strong inflammatory response
B) Is an energy-independent process
C) Is a programmed, energy-dependent form of cell death
D) Causes cell membrane rupture and leakage of contents
17. Which morphologic feature is characteristic of apoptosis rather than necrosis?
A) Cell swelling
4
