Herzing University NSG 120 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 (2026) | 170 MCQs + Answers +
Rationales | 100% Verified
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular enlargement. This is an example of which
cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased workload, as seen in the heart with chronic hypertension.
2. A 60-year-old smoker has a bronchial biopsy showing replacement of normal ciliated columnar epithelium
with stratified squamous epithelium. This change is called:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often due to chronic irritation
like smoking.
3. A Pap smear from a 35-year-old female reveals disordered growth of cervical epithelial cells with loss of
normal architecture but no invasion. This finding is:
A. Metaplasia
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,B. Anaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth that is premalignant but non-invasive at this stage.
4. The earliest reversible change in cell injury due to hypoxia is:
A. Nuclear pyknosis
B. Cellular swelling
C. Fatty change
D. Membrane rupture
Answer: B
Cellular swelling from failure of the sodium-potassium pump is the earliest reversible hypoxic injury.
5. A patient with a myocardial infarction has dead heart muscle tissue with preserved structural outlines.
This type of necrosis is:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: A
Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for days, typical in heart and kidney infarcts.
6. A patient with acute pancreatitis develops chalky white deposits in the peritoneum. This is due to:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
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,C. Fat necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: C
Fat necrosis occurs when pancreatic enzymes break down triglycerides into fatty acids, which bind calcium forming
chalky deposits.
7. A patient with tuberculosis has a lung granuloma with cheese-like appearance. This is which type of
necrosis?
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Fat
D. Caseous
Answer: D
Caseous necrosis is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis, appearing cheese-like, characteristic of
TB.
8. A patient with a brain stroke develops tissue liquefaction. This necrosis type is:
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Fat
D. Caseous
Answer: B
Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to enzymatic digestion, forming a cystic cavity.
9. Which cellular change is characterized by a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
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, C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood supply.
10. Programmed cell death is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Pyroptosis
D. Autophagy
Answer: B
Apoptosis is energy-dependent, genetically controlled cell death that does not cause inflammation.
11. An 18-year-old bodybuilder develops extremely large pectoral muscles from weightlifting. This is an
example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Physiologic hypertrophy occurs in skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
12. A 54-year-old female develops ovarian atrophy following loss of estrogen stimulation during menopause.
This is:
A. Physiologic atrophy
B. Pathologic atrophy
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Exam 1 (2026) | 170 MCQs + Answers +
Rationales | 100% Verified
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular enlargement. This is an example of which
cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased workload, as seen in the heart with chronic hypertension.
2. A 60-year-old smoker has a bronchial biopsy showing replacement of normal ciliated columnar epithelium
with stratified squamous epithelium. This change is called:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often due to chronic irritation
like smoking.
3. A Pap smear from a 35-year-old female reveals disordered growth of cervical epithelial cells with loss of
normal architecture but no invasion. This finding is:
A. Metaplasia
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,B. Anaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth that is premalignant but non-invasive at this stage.
4. The earliest reversible change in cell injury due to hypoxia is:
A. Nuclear pyknosis
B. Cellular swelling
C. Fatty change
D. Membrane rupture
Answer: B
Cellular swelling from failure of the sodium-potassium pump is the earliest reversible hypoxic injury.
5. A patient with a myocardial infarction has dead heart muscle tissue with preserved structural outlines.
This type of necrosis is:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: A
Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for days, typical in heart and kidney infarcts.
6. A patient with acute pancreatitis develops chalky white deposits in the peritoneum. This is due to:
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
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,C. Fat necrosis
D. Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: C
Fat necrosis occurs when pancreatic enzymes break down triglycerides into fatty acids, which bind calcium forming
chalky deposits.
7. A patient with tuberculosis has a lung granuloma with cheese-like appearance. This is which type of
necrosis?
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Fat
D. Caseous
Answer: D
Caseous necrosis is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis, appearing cheese-like, characteristic of
TB.
8. A patient with a brain stroke develops tissue liquefaction. This necrosis type is:
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Fat
D. Caseous
Answer: B
Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain due to enzymatic digestion, forming a cystic cavity.
9. Which cellular change is characterized by a decrease in cell size and function due to reduced workload?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
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, C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood supply.
10. Programmed cell death is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Pyroptosis
D. Autophagy
Answer: B
Apoptosis is energy-dependent, genetically controlled cell death that does not cause inflammation.
11. An 18-year-old bodybuilder develops extremely large pectoral muscles from weightlifting. This is an
example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Physiologic hypertrophy occurs in skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
12. A 54-year-old female develops ovarian atrophy following loss of estrogen stimulation during menopause.
This is:
A. Physiologic atrophy
B. Pathologic atrophy
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