PATHOLOGY
FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS
LATEST
UPDATE A+
PATHOLOGY
BOARD
EXAMINATION
2026
,Instructions: Choose The Best Answer.
1. A 50-Year Old Man Has Blood Pressure Of 150/90 Mm Hg. If This Person Remains Untreated For
Years, Which Of The Following Cellular Alterations Will Be Seen In The Myocardium?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.7
2. On Day 28 Of Her Menstrual Cycle, A 26-Year Old Woman Experiences Menstrual Bleeding
Which Lasts For 5 Days. She Has Had Regular Cycles For Many Years. Which Of The Following
Processes Is Most Likely Occurring In The Endometrium Just Before Onset Of Bleeding?
A. Apoptosis
B. Heterophagocytosis
C. Liquefactive Necrosis
D. Hyperplasia
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.26-27
3. At Autopsy, A 60-Year Old Man Has An Enlarged (2500 G) Liver With Yellow Cut Surface. Before
Death, His Total Serum Cholesterol And Triglyceride Levels Were Normal, But He Had Decreased
Serum Albumin Concentration And Prolonged Prothrombin Time. Which Of The Following
Activities Most Likely Lead To These Findings?
A. Playing Golf
B. Cigarette Smoking
C. Drinking Gin
D. Aspirin Ingestion
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.35-36
4. A 70-Year Old Woman Suddenly Lost Consciousness And On Awakening One Hour Later, She
Could Not Speak Nor Move Her Right Arm And Leg. Two Months Later, A Head Mri Showed A
Large Cystic Area In The Left Parietal Lobe. Which Of The Following Pathologic Processes Has
Most Likely Occurred In The Brain?
A. Karyolysis
B. Fat Necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Liquefactive Necrosis
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.22
6. A 21-Year Old Woman Complains Of Pain During Menses (Dysmenorrhea). To Treat This
Symptom, She Was Advised To Take Indomethacin. This Drug May Help Reduce Her Pain
Because It Interferes With The Production Of Which One Of The Following Substances?
A. Bradykinin
B. Histamine
C. Leukotrienes
D. Estrogen
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.65
7. What Type Of Leukocyte Actively Participates In Acute Inflammatory Processes And Contains
Myeloperoxidase Within Its Primary (Azurophilic) Granules And Alkaline Phosphates In Its
Secondary (Specific) Granules?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocytes
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.73
,8. A 3-Year Old Child Touches A Lit Candle. Within Several Hours, There Is Marked Erythema Of The
Skin Of The Fingers On The Child’s Left Hand, And Small Blisters Appear On The Finger Pads.
Which Of The Following Terms Best Describe The Process?
A. Fibrinous Inflammation
B. Ulceration
C. Abscess Formation
D. Serous Inflammation
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.76
9. A Woman Who Is Allergic To Cats Visits A Friend Who Keeps Several Pet Cats. During The Visit,
She Inhales Cat Dander And Within Minutes, She Develops Nasal Congestion And Abundant Nasal
Secretions. Which Of The Following Substances Is Most Likely To Produce These Findings?
A. Tumor Necrosis Factor
B. Bradykinin
C. Histamine
D. Complement C5a
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.63
10. After Receiving Incompatible Blood, A Patient Develops A Transfusion Reaction In The Form Of
Back Pain, Fever, Shortness Of Breath And Hematuria. Which Of The Following Statements Best
Classifies This Type Of Immunologic Reaction?
A. Systemic Anaphylactic Reaction
B. Complement-Mediated Cytotoxicity Reaction
C. Systemic Immune Complex Reaction
D. Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Reaction
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.210
12. A Patient Presents With A Large Wound On The Left Leg As A Result Of A Vehicular
Accident. Initially His Wound Is Filled With Granulation Tissue, Which Is Composed Of
Proliferating Fibroblasts And New Blood Vessels (Angiogenesis). Which Of The Following Is
A Growth Factor That Is Capable Of Inducing All The Steps Necessary For Angiogenesis?
A. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
B. Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
C. Epidermal Growth Factor
D. Transforming Growth Factor
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.95
13. A 16-Year Old Patient Has Lacerations On His Hand Which Required Sutures. The Sutures
Were Removed After 10 Days. Wound Healing Continued But The Site Was Disfigured By A
Prominent, Raised Nodular Scar Which Developed Over The Next 2 Months. Which Of The
Following Terms Best Describes The Process That Occurred Within This 2 -Month Period?
A. Organization
B. Resolution
C. Keloid Formation
D. Dehiscence
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.114
14. A 17-Year Old Woman Receiving Corticosteroid Therapy For An Autoimmune Disease Has An
Abscess On Her Upper Outer Left Arm. She Undergoes A Drainage Procedure But The Wound
Heals Poorly Over The Next Month. Which Of The Following Aspects Of Wound Healing Is Most
Likely To Be Deficient In This Patient?
A. Neutrophil Infiltration
B. Collagen Deposition
C. Re-Epithelialization
D. Fibroblast Elaboration
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.114
15. Which Of The Following Changes Best Describes The Pathophysiology Involved In The
Production Of Pulmonary Edema In Patients With Congestive Heart Failure?
A. Widespread Endothelial Damage
B. Decreased Plasma Oncotic Pressure
, D. Increased Hydrostatic Pressure
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.122
16. A 23-Year Old Medical Student Develops A “Red” Face After Being Asked A Question During A
Lecture. Which Of The Following Statements Best Describes The Vascular Reaction?
A. Active Hyperemia
B. Petechial Hemorrhage
C. Allergic Reaction
D. Passive Congestion
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.122
17. While Preparing Her Lunch, A Housewife Nicks Her Finger With A Knife. Seconds After The
Injury, The Bleeding Stops. Which Of The Following Mechanisms Is Most Likely To Reduce
Blood Loss From A Small Dermal Arteriole?
A. Protein C Activation
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Neutrophil Chemotaxis
D. Platelet Aggregation
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.124
18. A 26-Year Old Rock Climber Fractures His Left Femur After Falling From A Height Of 20 Meters.
He Was Hospitalized And Over The Next Several Days Develops Progressive Respiratory
Problems. He Died Three Days Later. At The Time Of Autopsy, Oil Red -O Positive Material Is
Seen In The Small Blood Vessels Of The Lungs And Brain. Which Of The Following Is The Most
Likely Diagnosis?
A. Air Emboli
B. Padoxical Emboli
C. Fat Emboli
D. Saddle Emboli
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.136
19. A 23 –Year Old Who Had A Myocardial Infarction 1 Year A Year Ago Now Has Chest Pain When
Exercising. His Underlying Disease Is Due To An Absence Of Ldl Receptors On Liver Cells,
Inherited As An Autosomal Dominant Condition. Which Of The Following Laboratory Findings Is
Most Likely To Be Present In This Patient?
A. Ketonuria
B. Hypercholesterolemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Abetalipoprotenemia
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.156
20. A 20-Year Old Woman Of Average Intelligence And Short Stature Is Being Evaluated For
Primary Amenorrhea. Physical Examination Reveals A Shield-Shaped Chest And Her Elbows
Turn Outward When Her Arms Are At Her Sides. She Has A “Thick Neck” And You Notice The
Absence Of Secondary Female Sex Characteristics. Serum Estrogen Levels Are Found To Be
Decreased, While Fsh And Lh Levels Are Increased. Which Of The Following Is The Most
Likely Diagnosis?
A. Turner’s Syndrome
B. Fragile X Syndrome
C. Klinefelter’s Syndrome
D. Xyy Syndrome
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.179
23. A 26-Year Old Woman Presents With Increasing Fatigue, Arthritis, Shortness Of Breath, And A
Bimalar, Photosensitive Erythematous Rash. Biopsies From This Rash Reveal Liquefactive
Degeneration Of The Basal Layer Of The Epidermis With A Perivascular Lymphoid Infiltrate.
Physical Examination Shows Bilateral Pleural Effusions, The Fluid From Which When Examined
Histologically Reveals Multiple Erythrocytes Phogocytized By Phagocytic Leukocytes. Which Of
The Following Is The Most Likely Diagnosis?
A. Dermatomyositis
B. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
C. Sjogren’s Syndrome
FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS
LATEST
UPDATE A+
PATHOLOGY
BOARD
EXAMINATION
2026
,Instructions: Choose The Best Answer.
1. A 50-Year Old Man Has Blood Pressure Of 150/90 Mm Hg. If This Person Remains Untreated For
Years, Which Of The Following Cellular Alterations Will Be Seen In The Myocardium?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.7
2. On Day 28 Of Her Menstrual Cycle, A 26-Year Old Woman Experiences Menstrual Bleeding
Which Lasts For 5 Days. She Has Had Regular Cycles For Many Years. Which Of The Following
Processes Is Most Likely Occurring In The Endometrium Just Before Onset Of Bleeding?
A. Apoptosis
B. Heterophagocytosis
C. Liquefactive Necrosis
D. Hyperplasia
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.26-27
3. At Autopsy, A 60-Year Old Man Has An Enlarged (2500 G) Liver With Yellow Cut Surface. Before
Death, His Total Serum Cholesterol And Triglyceride Levels Were Normal, But He Had Decreased
Serum Albumin Concentration And Prolonged Prothrombin Time. Which Of The Following
Activities Most Likely Lead To These Findings?
A. Playing Golf
B. Cigarette Smoking
C. Drinking Gin
D. Aspirin Ingestion
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.35-36
4. A 70-Year Old Woman Suddenly Lost Consciousness And On Awakening One Hour Later, She
Could Not Speak Nor Move Her Right Arm And Leg. Two Months Later, A Head Mri Showed A
Large Cystic Area In The Left Parietal Lobe. Which Of The Following Pathologic Processes Has
Most Likely Occurred In The Brain?
A. Karyolysis
B. Fat Necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Liquefactive Necrosis
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7th P.22
6. A 21-Year Old Woman Complains Of Pain During Menses (Dysmenorrhea). To Treat This
Symptom, She Was Advised To Take Indomethacin. This Drug May Help Reduce Her Pain
Because It Interferes With The Production Of Which One Of The Following Substances?
A. Bradykinin
B. Histamine
C. Leukotrienes
D. Estrogen
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.65
7. What Type Of Leukocyte Actively Participates In Acute Inflammatory Processes And Contains
Myeloperoxidase Within Its Primary (Azurophilic) Granules And Alkaline Phosphates In Its
Secondary (Specific) Granules?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocytes
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.73
,8. A 3-Year Old Child Touches A Lit Candle. Within Several Hours, There Is Marked Erythema Of The
Skin Of The Fingers On The Child’s Left Hand, And Small Blisters Appear On The Finger Pads.
Which Of The Following Terms Best Describe The Process?
A. Fibrinous Inflammation
B. Ulceration
C. Abscess Formation
D. Serous Inflammation
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.76
9. A Woman Who Is Allergic To Cats Visits A Friend Who Keeps Several Pet Cats. During The Visit,
She Inhales Cat Dander And Within Minutes, She Develops Nasal Congestion And Abundant Nasal
Secretions. Which Of The Following Substances Is Most Likely To Produce These Findings?
A. Tumor Necrosis Factor
B. Bradykinin
C. Histamine
D. Complement C5a
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.63
10. After Receiving Incompatible Blood, A Patient Develops A Transfusion Reaction In The Form Of
Back Pain, Fever, Shortness Of Breath And Hematuria. Which Of The Following Statements Best
Classifies This Type Of Immunologic Reaction?
A. Systemic Anaphylactic Reaction
B. Complement-Mediated Cytotoxicity Reaction
C. Systemic Immune Complex Reaction
D. Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Reaction
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.210
12. A Patient Presents With A Large Wound On The Left Leg As A Result Of A Vehicular
Accident. Initially His Wound Is Filled With Granulation Tissue, Which Is Composed Of
Proliferating Fibroblasts And New Blood Vessels (Angiogenesis). Which Of The Following Is
A Growth Factor That Is Capable Of Inducing All The Steps Necessary For Angiogenesis?
A. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
B. Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
C. Epidermal Growth Factor
D. Transforming Growth Factor
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.95
13. A 16-Year Old Patient Has Lacerations On His Hand Which Required Sutures. The Sutures
Were Removed After 10 Days. Wound Healing Continued But The Site Was Disfigured By A
Prominent, Raised Nodular Scar Which Developed Over The Next 2 Months. Which Of The
Following Terms Best Describes The Process That Occurred Within This 2 -Month Period?
A. Organization
B. Resolution
C. Keloid Formation
D. Dehiscence
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.114
14. A 17-Year Old Woman Receiving Corticosteroid Therapy For An Autoimmune Disease Has An
Abscess On Her Upper Outer Left Arm. She Undergoes A Drainage Procedure But The Wound
Heals Poorly Over The Next Month. Which Of The Following Aspects Of Wound Healing Is Most
Likely To Be Deficient In This Patient?
A. Neutrophil Infiltration
B. Collagen Deposition
C. Re-Epithelialization
D. Fibroblast Elaboration
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.114
15. Which Of The Following Changes Best Describes The Pathophysiology Involved In The
Production Of Pulmonary Edema In Patients With Congestive Heart Failure?
A. Widespread Endothelial Damage
B. Decreased Plasma Oncotic Pressure
, D. Increased Hydrostatic Pressure
Ans: D
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.122
16. A 23-Year Old Medical Student Develops A “Red” Face After Being Asked A Question During A
Lecture. Which Of The Following Statements Best Describes The Vascular Reaction?
A. Active Hyperemia
B. Petechial Hemorrhage
C. Allergic Reaction
D. Passive Congestion
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.122
17. While Preparing Her Lunch, A Housewife Nicks Her Finger With A Knife. Seconds After The
Injury, The Bleeding Stops. Which Of The Following Mechanisms Is Most Likely To Reduce
Blood Loss From A Small Dermal Arteriole?
A. Protein C Activation
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Neutrophil Chemotaxis
D. Platelet Aggregation
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.124
18. A 26-Year Old Rock Climber Fractures His Left Femur After Falling From A Height Of 20 Meters.
He Was Hospitalized And Over The Next Several Days Develops Progressive Respiratory
Problems. He Died Three Days Later. At The Time Of Autopsy, Oil Red -O Positive Material Is
Seen In The Small Blood Vessels Of The Lungs And Brain. Which Of The Following Is The Most
Likely Diagnosis?
A. Air Emboli
B. Padoxical Emboli
C. Fat Emboli
D. Saddle Emboli
Ans: C
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.136
19. A 23 –Year Old Who Had A Myocardial Infarction 1 Year A Year Ago Now Has Chest Pain When
Exercising. His Underlying Disease Is Due To An Absence Of Ldl Receptors On Liver Cells,
Inherited As An Autosomal Dominant Condition. Which Of The Following Laboratory Findings Is
Most Likely To Be Present In This Patient?
A. Ketonuria
B. Hypercholesterolemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Abetalipoprotenemia
Ans: B
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.156
20. A 20-Year Old Woman Of Average Intelligence And Short Stature Is Being Evaluated For
Primary Amenorrhea. Physical Examination Reveals A Shield-Shaped Chest And Her Elbows
Turn Outward When Her Arms Are At Her Sides. She Has A “Thick Neck” And You Notice The
Absence Of Secondary Female Sex Characteristics. Serum Estrogen Levels Are Found To Be
Decreased, While Fsh And Lh Levels Are Increased. Which Of The Following Is The Most
Likely Diagnosis?
A. Turner’s Syndrome
B. Fragile X Syndrome
C. Klinefelter’s Syndrome
D. Xyy Syndrome
Ans: A
Reference: Rpbd 7 th P.179
23. A 26-Year Old Woman Presents With Increasing Fatigue, Arthritis, Shortness Of Breath, And A
Bimalar, Photosensitive Erythematous Rash. Biopsies From This Rash Reveal Liquefactive
Degeneration Of The Basal Layer Of The Epidermis With A Perivascular Lymphoid Infiltrate.
Physical Examination Shows Bilateral Pleural Effusions, The Fluid From Which When Examined
Histologically Reveals Multiple Erythrocytes Phogocytized By Phagocytic Leukocytes. Which Of
The Following Is The Most Likely Diagnosis?
A. Dermatomyositis
B. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
C. Sjogren’s Syndrome
