PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1
PRACTICE PROBLEMS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
1. A patient is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a
lobe of his liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to
___________ of the remaining liver cells.
A. Metaplasia
B. Organ atrophy
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Physiological hyperplasia - CORRECT-ANSWERS- C
2. An older adult patient comes to the clinic complaining of not being able
to do what he used to be able to. You know that normal changes
associated with aging include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Improved blood flow
B. Slowed metabolic rate
C. Decreased brain weight
D. Improved nerve fiber conduction
E. Less respiratory capacity - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B, C, E
3. A 20-year-old college student has presented to her campus medical
clinic for a scheduled Pap smear. The clinician who will interpret the
smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. Presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell sample
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells - CORRECT-ANSWERS- A
1
, 4. The parents of a 4-year-old girl have sought care because their
daughter has admitted to chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have been determined to be made of lead. Which of the
following blood tests should the care team prioritize?
A. White blood cell levels with differential
B. Red blood cell levels and morphology
C. Urea and creatinine levels
D. Liver function panel - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
Lead -> anemia, RBC lysis
You know it's not A because there is no infection involved. C is focused on
kidney function while D is focused on liver function. Both of these would be
important in the case of lead poisoning BUT the priority answer is B, because
you need first to address the most life-threatening patient needs. The little
girl in this question can go into shock or suffer permanent organ damage if
her RBCs are low.
5. A patient with severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs
of dry gangrene on the great toe of one foot. Which of the following
pathophysiologic processes most likely contributed to this diagnosis?
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
B. Bacterial invasion
C. Impaired arterial blood supply
D. Metaplastic cellular changes - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
Remember that it's not C because to have gangrene, you must have an
infection
6. Although stress exposure initiates integrated responses by multiple
systems, the most important changes are first activated by which
system?
A. Pulmonary
B. Gastrointestinal
2
, C. Neuroendocrine
D. Cardiovascular - CORRECT-ANSWERS- C
7. Which manifestation of stress reflects the non-specific fight or flight
response?
A. Decreased pupillary light response
B. Increased GI motility
C. Decreased short-term memory
D. Increased cardiopulmonary rates - CORRECT-ANSWERS- D
This would fall under physiologic responses to stress!! Slide 25 in your
lecture PowerPoint
8. Stress-induced cortisol hormone secretion is associated with:
A. Increased growth hormone level
B. Regulation of the stress response
C. Increased thyroid-stimulating hormone
D. Depressed adrenal gland function - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
You know it's not A because I mentioned in an earlier slide that growth
hormone levels decrease with stress. We didn't mention thyroid-stimulating
hormone as one of the ones associated with the stress response so you can
pretty much assume that's not right. And we know adrenal function is not
depressed because ACTH from the anterior pituitary stimulates the adrenal
glands to release cortisol.
9. Which of the following factors are known to contribute to an
individual's ability to adapt to stress? (Select all that apply.)
A. Ethnicity
B. Age
C. Socioeconomic status
D. Gender
E. Health status - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B, C, D, E
3
PRACTICE PROBLEMS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
1. A patient is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a
lobe of his liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to
___________ of the remaining liver cells.
A. Metaplasia
B. Organ atrophy
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Physiological hyperplasia - CORRECT-ANSWERS- C
2. An older adult patient comes to the clinic complaining of not being able
to do what he used to be able to. You know that normal changes
associated with aging include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Improved blood flow
B. Slowed metabolic rate
C. Decreased brain weight
D. Improved nerve fiber conduction
E. Less respiratory capacity - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B, C, E
3. A 20-year-old college student has presented to her campus medical
clinic for a scheduled Pap smear. The clinician who will interpret the
smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. Presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell sample
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells - CORRECT-ANSWERS- A
1
, 4. The parents of a 4-year-old girl have sought care because their
daughter has admitted to chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have been determined to be made of lead. Which of the
following blood tests should the care team prioritize?
A. White blood cell levels with differential
B. Red blood cell levels and morphology
C. Urea and creatinine levels
D. Liver function panel - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
Lead -> anemia, RBC lysis
You know it's not A because there is no infection involved. C is focused on
kidney function while D is focused on liver function. Both of these would be
important in the case of lead poisoning BUT the priority answer is B, because
you need first to address the most life-threatening patient needs. The little
girl in this question can go into shock or suffer permanent organ damage if
her RBCs are low.
5. A patient with severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs
of dry gangrene on the great toe of one foot. Which of the following
pathophysiologic processes most likely contributed to this diagnosis?
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
B. Bacterial invasion
C. Impaired arterial blood supply
D. Metaplastic cellular changes - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
Remember that it's not C because to have gangrene, you must have an
infection
6. Although stress exposure initiates integrated responses by multiple
systems, the most important changes are first activated by which
system?
A. Pulmonary
B. Gastrointestinal
2
, C. Neuroendocrine
D. Cardiovascular - CORRECT-ANSWERS- C
7. Which manifestation of stress reflects the non-specific fight or flight
response?
A. Decreased pupillary light response
B. Increased GI motility
C. Decreased short-term memory
D. Increased cardiopulmonary rates - CORRECT-ANSWERS- D
This would fall under physiologic responses to stress!! Slide 25 in your
lecture PowerPoint
8. Stress-induced cortisol hormone secretion is associated with:
A. Increased growth hormone level
B. Regulation of the stress response
C. Increased thyroid-stimulating hormone
D. Depressed adrenal gland function - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B
You know it's not A because I mentioned in an earlier slide that growth
hormone levels decrease with stress. We didn't mention thyroid-stimulating
hormone as one of the ones associated with the stress response so you can
pretty much assume that's not right. And we know adrenal function is not
depressed because ACTH from the anterior pituitary stimulates the adrenal
glands to release cortisol.
9. Which of the following factors are known to contribute to an
individual's ability to adapt to stress? (Select all that apply.)
A. Ethnicity
B. Age
C. Socioeconomic status
D. Gender
E. Health status - CORRECT-ANSWERS- B, C, D, E
3
