D236 Pathophysiology Week 3 Study Guide Quiz 2026 |WGU
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size and
number, often seen in skeletal muscle during prolonged immobilization?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size due to loss of cell substance, resulting in
reduced function, commonly seen in disuse of muscles.
2. When a patient has chronic high blood pressure, the heart cells increase in
size to compensate for the increased workload. This is an example of:
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
or increased workload, common in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
,3. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another,
such as in the respiratory tract of a smoker?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Neoplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, often
as an adaptation to chronic irritation.
4. A biopsy reveals abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. This condition is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in size, shape, and organization of mature
cells and is often considered a precursor to cancer.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Chemical agents
B. Infectious agents
C. Genetic factors
D. Hypoxia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
, 6. Which mechanism of cell death involves cellular swelling and the leakage of
cytoplasmic contents into the extracellular space, triggering inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Apoptosis
D. Senescence
Answer: A
Rationale: Necrosis is accidental cell death resulting from acute injury, characterized by
swelling and inflammation.
7. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Cellular adaptation to stress
B. Death caused by ischemia
C. Death caused by free radicals
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death
used to remove unwanted or damaged cells without inflammation.
8. Free radicals cause cellular injury by:
A. Damaging cell membranes through lipid peroxidation
B. Increasing ATP production
C. Promoting cellular hydration
D. Stabilizing DNA structures
Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause oxidative stress, leading to lipid
peroxidation of membranes and DNA damage.
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size and
number, often seen in skeletal muscle during prolonged immobilization?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size due to loss of cell substance, resulting in
reduced function, commonly seen in disuse of muscles.
2. When a patient has chronic high blood pressure, the heart cells increase in
size to compensate for the increased workload. This is an example of:
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells in response to mechanical stimuli
or increased workload, common in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
,3. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another,
such as in the respiratory tract of a smoker?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Neoplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, often
as an adaptation to chronic irritation.
4. A biopsy reveals abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells. This condition is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in size, shape, and organization of mature
cells and is often considered a precursor to cancer.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Chemical agents
B. Infectious agents
C. Genetic factors
D. Hypoxia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
, 6. Which mechanism of cell death involves cellular swelling and the leakage of
cytoplasmic contents into the extracellular space, triggering inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Apoptosis
D. Senescence
Answer: A
Rationale: Necrosis is accidental cell death resulting from acute injury, characterized by
swelling and inflammation.
7. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Cellular adaptation to stress
B. Death caused by ischemia
C. Death caused by free radicals
D. Programmed cell death
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death
used to remove unwanted or damaged cells without inflammation.
8. Free radicals cause cellular injury by:
A. Damaging cell membranes through lipid peroxidation
B. Increasing ATP production
C. Promoting cellular hydration
D. Stabilizing DNA structures
Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause oxidative stress, leading to lipid
peroxidation of membranes and DNA damage.
