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WGU D027 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Original Practice Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND ADAPTATION
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number. It
occurs in tissues where cells cannot divide, such as cardiac
muscle.
2. Hyperplasia is best defined as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Decrease in cell size
D) Change in cell type
Answer: B
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Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a
tissue, often occurring alongside hypertrophy.
3. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hypertrophy?
A) Enlargement of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Cardiac enlargement from heart failure
D) Muscle atrophy from disuse
Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is a normal
physiological response. Hypertension-induced cardiac
hypertrophy is pathologic.
4. Atrophy is defined as:
A) Increase in cell number
B) Decrease in cell size or number
C) Change in cell type
D) Disorganized cell growth
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size (and sometimes
number), often due to disuse, ischemia, or malnutrition.
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5. Metaplasia is best described as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type
C) Uncontrolled cell growth
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another. Example:
bronchial epithelium changing from columnar to squamous in
smokers.
6. Which of the following is an example of metaplasia?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy
B) Barrett's esophagus (esophageal squamous cells replaced by
columnar cells)
C) Muscle atrophy
D) Hyperplasia of the prostate
Answer: B
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of
metaplasia due to chronic acid reflux.
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7. Dysplasia is characterized by:
A) Normal cell growth
B) Abnormal cell growth with disordered maturation
C) Benign tumor formation
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cell size, shape, and
organization. It is often precancerous.
8. Which of the following is an example of irreversible cell
injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Necrosis
D) Hydropic degeneration
Answer: C
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible cell death. Cellular swelling
and fatty change are reversible injuries.
9. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
WGU D027 – PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Original Practice Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND ADAPTATION
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in
cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not number. It
occurs in tissues where cells cannot divide, such as cardiac
muscle.
2. Hyperplasia is best defined as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Decrease in cell size
D) Change in cell type
Answer: B
, Page |2
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a
tissue, often occurring alongside hypertrophy.
3. Which of the following is an example of physiologic
hypertrophy?
A) Enlargement of the left ventricle from chronic hypertension
B) Uterine enlargement during pregnancy
C) Cardiac enlargement from heart failure
D) Muscle atrophy from disuse
Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine enlargement during pregnancy is a normal
physiological response. Hypertension-induced cardiac
hypertrophy is pathologic.
4. Atrophy is defined as:
A) Increase in cell number
B) Decrease in cell size or number
C) Change in cell type
D) Disorganized cell growth
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size (and sometimes
number), often due to disuse, ischemia, or malnutrition.
, Page |3
5. Metaplasia is best described as:
A) Increase in cell size
B) Replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type
C) Uncontrolled cell growth
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another. Example:
bronchial epithelium changing from columnar to squamous in
smokers.
6. Which of the following is an example of metaplasia?
A) Cardiac hypertrophy
B) Barrett's esophagus (esophageal squamous cells replaced by
columnar cells)
C) Muscle atrophy
D) Hyperplasia of the prostate
Answer: B
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of
metaplasia due to chronic acid reflux.
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7. Dysplasia is characterized by:
A) Normal cell growth
B) Abnormal cell growth with disordered maturation
C) Benign tumor formation
D) Cell death
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal cell size, shape, and
organization. It is often precancerous.
8. Which of the following is an example of irreversible cell
injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Necrosis
D) Hydropic degeneration
Answer: C
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible cell death. Cellular swelling
and fatty change are reversible injuries.
9. Coagulative necrosis is most commonly seen in:
