WGU D236 Pathophysiology PreAssessment
Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified
Answers
Complete PA & OA Prep | A+ Graded
1. A patient presents with muscle wasting and decreased cell size in a lower extremity following
prolonged immobility. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Atrophy
Explanation: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size resulting from reduced workload, denervation, ischemia,
or malnutrition. Prolonged immobility leads to disuse atrophy of muscle cells.
2. A patient with chronic hypertension develops thickening of the left ventricular wall. This cellular
adaptation is known as:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
,Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload. In hypertension,
the left ventricle must pump against increased resistance, leading to myocyte hypertrophy.
3. A female patient experiences an increase in breast tissue during pregnancy. This cellular adaptation is
termed:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Explanation: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to hormonal stimulation or increased
demand. Breast tissue proliferation during pregnancy is a normal hormonal hyperplasia.
4. A chronic smoker develops a change in the epithelial lining of the bronchi from pseudostratified
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous epithelium. This process is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
,Answer: D. Metaplasia
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another. In
smokers, the respiratory epithelium undergoes squamous metaplasia in response to chronic irritation.
5. A pathologist notes cells with abnormal size, shape, and organization in a cervical biopsy. This finding
is characteristic of:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Dysplasia refers to disordered cellular growth with loss of normal architecture and cell
uniformity. It is considered a precancerous condition.
6. The type of cell death that is genetically programmed and does not trigger an inflammatory response
is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Coagulative necrosis
, Answer: B. Apoptosis
Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled manner without
inflammation. It is essential for normal tissue turnover and development.
7. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Explanation: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type of necrosis, occurring in ischemic injury to
solid organs. The heart, kidneys, and spleen typically undergo coagulative necrosis following infarction.
8. A patient with tuberculosis develops lung lesions with a cheeselike appearance. This type of necrosis
is called:
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C. Caseous necrosis
Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified
Answers
Complete PA & OA Prep | A+ Graded
1. A patient presents with muscle wasting and decreased cell size in a lower extremity following
prolonged immobility. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Atrophy
Explanation: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size resulting from reduced workload, denervation, ischemia,
or malnutrition. Prolonged immobility leads to disuse atrophy of muscle cells.
2. A patient with chronic hypertension develops thickening of the left ventricular wall. This cellular
adaptation is known as:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
,Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload. In hypertension,
the left ventricle must pump against increased resistance, leading to myocyte hypertrophy.
3. A female patient experiences an increase in breast tissue during pregnancy. This cellular adaptation is
termed:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Explanation: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number due to hormonal stimulation or increased
demand. Breast tissue proliferation during pregnancy is a normal hormonal hyperplasia.
4. A chronic smoker develops a change in the epithelial lining of the bronchi from pseudostratified
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous epithelium. This process is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
,Answer: D. Metaplasia
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another. In
smokers, the respiratory epithelium undergoes squamous metaplasia in response to chronic irritation.
5. A pathologist notes cells with abnormal size, shape, and organization in a cervical biopsy. This finding
is characteristic of:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Dysplasia refers to disordered cellular growth with loss of normal architecture and cell
uniformity. It is considered a precancerous condition.
6. The type of cell death that is genetically programmed and does not trigger an inflammatory response
is called:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Coagulative necrosis
, Answer: B. Apoptosis
Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled manner without
inflammation. It is essential for normal tissue turnover and development.
7. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Explanation: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type of necrosis, occurring in ischemic injury to
solid organs. The heart, kidneys, and spleen typically undergo coagulative necrosis following infarction.
8. A patient with tuberculosis develops lung lesions with a cheeselike appearance. This type of necrosis
is called:
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C. Caseous necrosis
