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WGU D236 Pathophysiology OA and Pre-
Assessment 200 Multiple Choice Questions
with Verified Answers and Detailed
Rationales for Complete Exam Preparation
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY, AND DEATH (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
A patient with long-standing hypertension shows an increase in the size of the left ventricular
muscle cells. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Atrophy
ANS: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the size of
the organ. It is common in cardiac and skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
Cardiac muscle cells cannot undergo hyperplasia .
Question 2
, 2
Which process describes the programmed cell death that occurs without an inflammatory
response?
A) Necrosis
B) Autolysis
C) Apoptosis
D) Infarction
ANS: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct, programmed form of cell death that eliminates unwanted or
damaged cells without causing leakage of cellular contents and subsequent inflammation.
Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death that triggers inflammation .
Question 3
A biopsy reveals that the columnar epithelium of a smoker's airway has been replaced by
stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
ANS: B
, 3
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by another
adult cell type, often as a response to chronic irritation. In smokers, columnar ciliated
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium .
Question 4
Which of the following is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxic states?
A) Increased protein synthesis
B) Increased intracellular alkalinity
C) Failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump
D) Decreased intracellular calcium
ANS: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production. Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump
fails, leading to sodium and water entering the cell (cellular swelling). This is a hallmark of
reversible hypoxic injury .
Question 5
What is the hallmark characteristic of acute inflammation?
A) Increased vascular permeability and neutrophil emigration
B) Tissue fibrosis and scarring
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C) Infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes
D) Angiogenesis
ANS: A
Rationale: Acute inflammation is characterized by rapid onset, exudation of fluid/plasma
proteins (edema), and the migration of leukocytes, predominantly neutrophils .
Question 6
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies and involves mast cell
degranulation?
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type IV
ANS: A
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated and involves mast cell degranulation, releasing
histamine and other mediators. Examples include allergic rhinitis and anaphylaxis .
Question 7
WGU D236 Pathophysiology OA and Pre-
Assessment 200 Multiple Choice Questions
with Verified Answers and Detailed
Rationales for Complete Exam Preparation
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY, AND DEATH (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
A patient with long-standing hypertension shows an increase in the size of the left ventricular
muscle cells. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Atrophy
ANS: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the size of
the organ. It is common in cardiac and skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
Cardiac muscle cells cannot undergo hyperplasia .
Question 2
, 2
Which process describes the programmed cell death that occurs without an inflammatory
response?
A) Necrosis
B) Autolysis
C) Apoptosis
D) Infarction
ANS: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct, programmed form of cell death that eliminates unwanted or
damaged cells without causing leakage of cellular contents and subsequent inflammation.
Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death that triggers inflammation .
Question 3
A biopsy reveals that the columnar epithelium of a smoker's airway has been replaced by
stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
ANS: B
, 3
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by another
adult cell type, often as a response to chronic irritation. In smokers, columnar ciliated
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium .
Question 4
Which of the following is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxic states?
A) Increased protein synthesis
B) Increased intracellular alkalinity
C) Failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump
D) Decreased intracellular calcium
ANS: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production. Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump
fails, leading to sodium and water entering the cell (cellular swelling). This is a hallmark of
reversible hypoxic injury .
Question 5
What is the hallmark characteristic of acute inflammation?
A) Increased vascular permeability and neutrophil emigration
B) Tissue fibrosis and scarring
, 4
C) Infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes
D) Angiogenesis
ANS: A
Rationale: Acute inflammation is characterized by rapid onset, exudation of fluid/plasma
proteins (edema), and the migration of leukocytes, predominantly neutrophils .
Question 6
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies and involves mast cell
degranulation?
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type IV
ANS: A
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated and involves mast cell degranulation, releasing
histamine and other mediators. Examples include allergic rhinitis and anaphylaxis .
Question 7
