Page 1 of 83
MCCANCE & HUETHER'S PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, 9TH EDITION COMPREHENSIVE 2026
QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
McCance & Huether's Pathophysiology, 9th Edition — Questions with Rationales
UNIT I: THE CELL (15 Questions)
Chapter 1: Cellular Biology
1. Which cellular organelle is primarily responsible for producing adenosine
triphosphate through oxidative phosphorylation?
A) Ribosome
B) Mitochondrion
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Rationale: Mitochondria are the primary site of ATP production via oxidative
phosphorylation, utilizing the electron transport chain to generate energy for cellular
processes.
2. Which cellular structure regulates the movement of substances into and out of
the cell?
A) Nucleus
B) Cell membrane
C) Cytoplasm
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
, Page 2 of 83
Rationale: The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is a selectively permeable
phospholipid bilayer that regulates the movement of substances into and out of the
cell.
3. Which type of cellular transport requires energy (ATP) to move substances
against their concentration gradient?
A) Simple diffusion
B) Facilitated diffusion
C) Active transport
D) Osmosis
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move substances against their
concentration gradient, while diffusion and osmosis are passive processes.
4. What is the primary function of the lysosome within the cell?
A) Protein synthesis
B) ATP production
C) Digestion of cellular waste and worn-out organelles
D) Lipid synthesis
Rationale: Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic enzymes
that digest cellular waste, worn-out organelles, and ingested materials.
5. During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur?
A) G1 phase
B) S phase
C) G2 phase
D) M phase
Rationale: The S (synthesis) phase of interphase is when DNA replication occurs,
ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.
, Page 3 of 83
Chapter 2: Altered Cellular and Tissue Biology
6. Which type of cellular injury is characterized by reversible fatty accumulation
within parenchymal cells, commonly seen in the liver?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Steatosis
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Steatosis (fatty change) is a reversible form of cellular injury characterized
by lipid accumulation within cells, commonly seen in the liver.
7. Which type of necrosis occurs primarily in the brain following ischemic injury
and is characterized by enzymatic digestion of tissue?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs primarily in the brain following ischemic injury,
where enzymatic digestion leads to the formation of a liquid viscous mass.
8. What is the term for programmed cell death that is genetically regulated and
does not elicit an inflammatory response?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autophagy
D) Pyroptosis
, Page 4 of 83
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is genetically regulated, does not
elicit an inflammatory response, and is essential for normal development and tissue
homeostasis.
9. Which cellular adaptation involves a reversible change in which one adult cell
type is replaced by another adult cell type?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another, often occurring in response to chronic irritation.
10. What is the phenomenon of "reperfusion injury" following ischemic tissue
damage?
A) Restoration of blood flow causes minimal additional damage
B) Reintroduction of oxygen leads to free radical generation and inflammatory damage
C) Ischemic tissue is permanently unable to recover function
D) Reperfusion decreases the inflammatory response
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when blood flow is restored to ischemic tissue,
causing a surge in reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators that exacerbate
tissue damage.
Chapter 3: The Cellular Environment: Fluids and Electrolytes, Acids and Bases
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the
development of cardiac dysrhythmias and neuromuscular irritability?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia
MCCANCE & HUETHER'S PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, 9TH EDITION COMPREHENSIVE 2026
QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
McCance & Huether's Pathophysiology, 9th Edition — Questions with Rationales
UNIT I: THE CELL (15 Questions)
Chapter 1: Cellular Biology
1. Which cellular organelle is primarily responsible for producing adenosine
triphosphate through oxidative phosphorylation?
A) Ribosome
B) Mitochondrion
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Rationale: Mitochondria are the primary site of ATP production via oxidative
phosphorylation, utilizing the electron transport chain to generate energy for cellular
processes.
2. Which cellular structure regulates the movement of substances into and out of
the cell?
A) Nucleus
B) Cell membrane
C) Cytoplasm
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
, Page 2 of 83
Rationale: The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is a selectively permeable
phospholipid bilayer that regulates the movement of substances into and out of the
cell.
3. Which type of cellular transport requires energy (ATP) to move substances
against their concentration gradient?
A) Simple diffusion
B) Facilitated diffusion
C) Active transport
D) Osmosis
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move substances against their
concentration gradient, while diffusion and osmosis are passive processes.
4. What is the primary function of the lysosome within the cell?
A) Protein synthesis
B) ATP production
C) Digestion of cellular waste and worn-out organelles
D) Lipid synthesis
Rationale: Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic enzymes
that digest cellular waste, worn-out organelles, and ingested materials.
5. During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur?
A) G1 phase
B) S phase
C) G2 phase
D) M phase
Rationale: The S (synthesis) phase of interphase is when DNA replication occurs,
ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.
, Page 3 of 83
Chapter 2: Altered Cellular and Tissue Biology
6. Which type of cellular injury is characterized by reversible fatty accumulation
within parenchymal cells, commonly seen in the liver?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Steatosis
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Steatosis (fatty change) is a reversible form of cellular injury characterized
by lipid accumulation within cells, commonly seen in the liver.
7. Which type of necrosis occurs primarily in the brain following ischemic injury
and is characterized by enzymatic digestion of tissue?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs primarily in the brain following ischemic injury,
where enzymatic digestion leads to the formation of a liquid viscous mass.
8. What is the term for programmed cell death that is genetically regulated and
does not elicit an inflammatory response?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autophagy
D) Pyroptosis
, Page 4 of 83
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is genetically regulated, does not
elicit an inflammatory response, and is essential for normal development and tissue
homeostasis.
9. Which cellular adaptation involves a reversible change in which one adult cell
type is replaced by another adult cell type?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another, often occurring in response to chronic irritation.
10. What is the phenomenon of "reperfusion injury" following ischemic tissue
damage?
A) Restoration of blood flow causes minimal additional damage
B) Reintroduction of oxygen leads to free radical generation and inflammatory damage
C) Ischemic tissue is permanently unable to recover function
D) Reperfusion decreases the inflammatory response
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when blood flow is restored to ischemic tissue,
causing a surge in reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators that exacerbate
tissue damage.
Chapter 3: The Cellular Environment: Fluids and Electrolytes, Acids and Bases
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the
development of cardiac dysrhythmias and neuromuscular irritability?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia
