Comprehensive Pathophysiology
Midterm Exam Questions and Answers
for Guaranteed Success
What are the two categories of intracellular accumulations? - ANS (1) normal cellular
substances, such as water, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrate excesses; and (2) abnormal
substances, either endogenous (e.g., from abnormal metabolism) or exogenous (e.g., a virus).
What mechanisms cause accumulations? - ANS (1) An endogenous substance is produced in
excess or at an increased rate; (2) an abnormal substance, often the result of a mutated gene,
accumulates; (3) an endogenous substance is not effectively catabolized; and (4) a harmful
exogenous substance accumulates because of inhalation, ingestion, or infection.
What causes cellular swelling? - ANS the failure of transport mechanisms and is a sign of many
types of cellular injury
What is dystrophic calcification? - ANS hallmark of CELLULAR INJURY and occurs in all
types of cell NECROSIS
always in the setting of NORMAL CALCIUM LEVELS, and results in PSAMMOMA BODIES
What does a disturbance in urate metabolism cause? - ANS hyperuricemia and deposition of
sodium urate crystals in tissue—leading to a painful disorder called gout
What are the systemic manifestations of cellular injury? - ANS fever, leukocytosis, increased
heart rate, pain, and serum elevations of enzymes in the plasma
What is necrosis? - ANS rapid loss of the plasma membrane structure, organelle swelling,
mitochondrial dysfunction, and the lack of features of apoptosis
, What is apoptosis? - ANS regulated or programmed cell death and is characterized by "dropping
off" of cellular fragments, called apoptotic bodies
How are cells specialized? - ANS through the process of differentiation or maturation
What are the eight specialized cellular functions? - ANS movement, conductivity, metabolic
absorption, secretion, excretion, respiration, reproduction, and communication
What are the three general components of an eukaryotic cell? - ANS the plasma membrane, the
cytoplasm, and the intracellular organelles.
What causes the release of lysosomal enzemes? - ANS Cellular injury causing cellular self-
digestion
What is the location and function of the nucleus? - ANS the largest membrane-bound organelle
and is found usually in the cell's center. The chief functions of the nucleus are cell division and
control of genetic information.
What is Cytoplasm? - ANS an aqueous solution (cytosol) that fills the space between the nucleus
and the plasma membrane.
What is the endoplasmic reticulum and what does it specialize in? - ANS a network of tubular
channels (cisternae) that extend throughout the outer nuclear membrane. It specializes in the
synthesis and transport of protein and lipid components of most of the organelles
What is the Golgi complex and what does it do? - ANS a network of smooth membranes and
vesicles located near the nucleus. The Golgi complex is responsible for processing and
packaging proteins into secretory vesicles
What are lysosomes and what do they do? - ANS saclike structures that originate from the Golgi
complex and contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for digesting most
cellular substances to their basic form, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates
Midterm Exam Questions and Answers
for Guaranteed Success
What are the two categories of intracellular accumulations? - ANS (1) normal cellular
substances, such as water, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrate excesses; and (2) abnormal
substances, either endogenous (e.g., from abnormal metabolism) or exogenous (e.g., a virus).
What mechanisms cause accumulations? - ANS (1) An endogenous substance is produced in
excess or at an increased rate; (2) an abnormal substance, often the result of a mutated gene,
accumulates; (3) an endogenous substance is not effectively catabolized; and (4) a harmful
exogenous substance accumulates because of inhalation, ingestion, or infection.
What causes cellular swelling? - ANS the failure of transport mechanisms and is a sign of many
types of cellular injury
What is dystrophic calcification? - ANS hallmark of CELLULAR INJURY and occurs in all
types of cell NECROSIS
always in the setting of NORMAL CALCIUM LEVELS, and results in PSAMMOMA BODIES
What does a disturbance in urate metabolism cause? - ANS hyperuricemia and deposition of
sodium urate crystals in tissue—leading to a painful disorder called gout
What are the systemic manifestations of cellular injury? - ANS fever, leukocytosis, increased
heart rate, pain, and serum elevations of enzymes in the plasma
What is necrosis? - ANS rapid loss of the plasma membrane structure, organelle swelling,
mitochondrial dysfunction, and the lack of features of apoptosis
, What is apoptosis? - ANS regulated or programmed cell death and is characterized by "dropping
off" of cellular fragments, called apoptotic bodies
How are cells specialized? - ANS through the process of differentiation or maturation
What are the eight specialized cellular functions? - ANS movement, conductivity, metabolic
absorption, secretion, excretion, respiration, reproduction, and communication
What are the three general components of an eukaryotic cell? - ANS the plasma membrane, the
cytoplasm, and the intracellular organelles.
What causes the release of lysosomal enzemes? - ANS Cellular injury causing cellular self-
digestion
What is the location and function of the nucleus? - ANS the largest membrane-bound organelle
and is found usually in the cell's center. The chief functions of the nucleus are cell division and
control of genetic information.
What is Cytoplasm? - ANS an aqueous solution (cytosol) that fills the space between the nucleus
and the plasma membrane.
What is the endoplasmic reticulum and what does it specialize in? - ANS a network of tubular
channels (cisternae) that extend throughout the outer nuclear membrane. It specializes in the
synthesis and transport of protein and lipid components of most of the organelles
What is the Golgi complex and what does it do? - ANS a network of smooth membranes and
vesicles located near the nucleus. The Golgi complex is responsible for processing and
packaging proteins into secretory vesicles
What are lysosomes and what do they do? - ANS saclike structures that originate from the Golgi
complex and contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for digesting most
cellular substances to their basic form, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates
