WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient exhibits a replacement of one mature cell type with another, less differentiated
cell type in response to chronic irritation. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often less differentiated, cell type. This is frequently seen in the respiratory
tract of smokers where ciliated columnar epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous
epithelium.
2. In the state of cellular hypoxia, what is the primary cause of cellular swelling?
A. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump due to ATP depletion
B. Accumulation of lipofuscin in the cytoplasm
,C. Increased membrane permeability to calcium ions
D. Release of lysosomal enzymes into the cytosol
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production. Without ATP, the
Na+/K+ pump fails, leading to an intracellular accumulation of sodium. Water follows
sodium into the cell via osmosis, causing the cell to swell (oncosis).
3. Which type of cell death is characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
the formation of cytoplasmic blebs without an inflammatory response?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is tidy and does not
trigger inflammation, unlike necrosis which involves cell bursting and spilling of contents.
4. A person with Down syndrome has three copies of chromosome 21. This condition is an
example of:
A. Monosomy
B. Aneuploidy
, C. Triploidy
D. Tetraploidy
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Aneuploidy is a condition where a cell does not contain a
multiple of 23 chromosomes. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is a specific type of
aneuploidy.
5. Which mediator of inflammation is primarily responsible for the immediate vasodilation
and increased vascular permeability seen in acute inflammation?
A. Leukotrienes
B. Histamine
C. Cytokines
D. Prostaglandins
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Histamine is pre-formed in mast cells and released immediately
upon injury, causing rapid vasodilation and increased capillary permeability.
6. A patient has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Prominent U waves
B. Prolonged PR interval
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient exhibits a replacement of one mature cell type with another, less differentiated
cell type in response to chronic irritation. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often less differentiated, cell type. This is frequently seen in the respiratory
tract of smokers where ciliated columnar epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous
epithelium.
2. In the state of cellular hypoxia, what is the primary cause of cellular swelling?
A. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump due to ATP depletion
B. Accumulation of lipofuscin in the cytoplasm
,C. Increased membrane permeability to calcium ions
D. Release of lysosomal enzymes into the cytosol
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production. Without ATP, the
Na+/K+ pump fails, leading to an intracellular accumulation of sodium. Water follows
sodium into the cell via osmosis, causing the cell to swell (oncosis).
3. Which type of cell death is characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
the formation of cytoplasmic blebs without an inflammatory response?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is tidy and does not
trigger inflammation, unlike necrosis which involves cell bursting and spilling of contents.
4. A person with Down syndrome has three copies of chromosome 21. This condition is an
example of:
A. Monosomy
B. Aneuploidy
, C. Triploidy
D. Tetraploidy
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Aneuploidy is a condition where a cell does not contain a
multiple of 23 chromosomes. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is a specific type of
aneuploidy.
5. Which mediator of inflammation is primarily responsible for the immediate vasodilation
and increased vascular permeability seen in acute inflammation?
A. Leukotrienes
B. Histamine
C. Cytokines
D. Prostaglandins
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Histamine is pre-formed in mast cells and released immediately
upon injury, causing rapid vasodilation and increased capillary permeability.
6. A patient has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Prominent U waves
B. Prolonged PR interval
