WGU D236 Pathophysiology OA V2 Exam Study Guide & Practice Questions (2026)
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury (Questions 1–30)
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when there is a replacement of one mature cell
type by another, less mature cell type?
A) Metaplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Dysplasia
Answer A: ) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often as a response to chronic irritation .
2. A patient with Barrett's esophagus has undergone cellular changes due to chronic
acid reflux. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
,C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer B: ) Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is metaplasia where squamous epithelium is replaced by
columnar epithelium in response to chronic irritation.
3. What is the primary characteristic of irreversible cellular injury?
A) Mitochondrial swelling
B) Plasma membrane damage
C) Ribosome detachment
D) Cellular swelling
Answer B: ) Plasma membrane damage
Rationale: Severe damage to the plasma membrane is a hallmark of irreversible cell
injury and death .
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer B: ) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload or
stimulation.
,5. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an
example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer B: ) Hypertrophy
Rationale: The heart muscle cells increase in size (not number) in response to increased
afterload from hypertension.
6. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell number?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer A: ) Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in response to a stimulus.
7. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer A: ) Hyperplasia
Rationale: BPH involves an increase in the number of prostate cells.
, 8. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and function?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer D: ) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often due to disuse,
denervation, or decreased blood supply.
9. A patient who is immobilized in a cast develops muscle wasting. This is an example
of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: ) Atrophy
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when muscles are not used, leading to a decrease in cell
size.
10. What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis?
A) Apoptosis is unprogrammed; necrosis is programmed
B) Apoptosis is programmed cell death; necrosis is unprogrammed cell death from injury
C) Both are programmed cell death
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury (Questions 1–30)
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when there is a replacement of one mature cell
type by another, less mature cell type?
A) Metaplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Dysplasia
Answer A: ) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often as a response to chronic irritation .
2. A patient with Barrett's esophagus has undergone cellular changes due to chronic
acid reflux. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
,C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer B: ) Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is metaplasia where squamous epithelium is replaced by
columnar epithelium in response to chronic irritation.
3. What is the primary characteristic of irreversible cellular injury?
A) Mitochondrial swelling
B) Plasma membrane damage
C) Ribosome detachment
D) Cellular swelling
Answer B: ) Plasma membrane damage
Rationale: Severe damage to the plasma membrane is a hallmark of irreversible cell
injury and death .
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer B: ) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload or
stimulation.
,5. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an
example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer B: ) Hypertrophy
Rationale: The heart muscle cells increase in size (not number) in response to increased
afterload from hypertension.
6. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell number?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer A: ) Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in response to a stimulus.
7. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer A: ) Hyperplasia
Rationale: BPH involves an increase in the number of prostate cells.
, 8. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and function?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer D: ) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often due to disuse,
denervation, or decreased blood supply.
9. A patient who is immobilized in a cast develops muscle wasting. This is an example
of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: ) Atrophy
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when muscles are not used, leading to a decrease in cell
size.
10. What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis?
A) Apoptosis is unprogrammed; necrosis is programmed
B) Apoptosis is programmed cell death; necrosis is unprogrammed cell death from injury
C) Both are programmed cell death
