BIOL 331 | BIOL331 Module 1: Pathophysiology
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which type of cellular adaptation occurs when there is a decrease in cell size due to a loss
of stimulation or use?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by the loss of cell substance. It can be
caused by decreased workload, loss of innervation, or diminished blood supply.
Hypertrophy involves an increase in cell size rather than a decrease. Hyperplasia is an
increase in the number of cells in an organ. Metaplasia refers to a change from one adult
cell type to another.
2. What describes the cellular adaptation where one adult cell type is replaced by another cell
type that is better able to tolerate the environment?
A. Metaplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by
another. This often occurs in response to chronic irritation, such as smoking. Dysplasia is
characterized by deranged cell growth and is often a precursor to cancer. Hyperplasia is
simply an increase in the number of cells. Anaplasia refers to a lack of differentiation in
cells, usually seen in malignant tumors.
3. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, often in
response to hormonal stimulation?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
,D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hyperplasia is an adaptive mechanism where the cell population increases in
number. It can be physiologic, such as breast tissue growth during pregnancy. It differs
from hypertrophy, which only increases cell size. Atrophy is the reduction of cell size or
number. Dysplasia represents abnormal, disorganized growth patterns.
4. A patient with long-term untreated hypertension shows thickening of the left ventricular
wall. This is an example of:
A. Pathologic hypertrophy
B. Physiologic hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in response to a disease state like
hypertension. The cardiac myocytes increase in size to compensate for the increased
pressure they must pump against. This is not hyperplasia because cardiac muscle cells
generally do not divide. Metaplasia involves changing cell types, which does not happen
here. Atrophy would involve thinning of the wall rather than thickening.
5. Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Infectious agents
C. Chemical agents
D. Genetic defects
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is the leading cause of cell injury and death.
It can result from reduced blood flow, known as ischemia, or decreased oxygen-carrying
capacity of the blood. While chemical and infectious agents cause injury, they are less
frequent than oxygen deficiency. Genetic defects cause injury at a molecular level but are
not the most common global cause. Physical agents like trauma are also significant but
secondary to hypoxia.
6. What is the primary mechanism by which hypoxia causes cellular swelling?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Activation of the complement system
C. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
, D. Release of lysosomal enzymes
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production, which is required for the sodium-
potassium pump. Without ATP, sodium accumulates inside the cell, drawing water in by
osmosis. This results in acute cellular swelling, also known as oncosis. Protein synthesis
actually decreases during hypoxia due to ribosomal detachment. Lysosomal enzyme
release usually occurs later during irreversible injury.
7. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) cause cellular injury primarily by damaging which of the
following?
A. Extracellular matrix
B. Cytoplasmic ribosomes
C. Cell membranes and DNA
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: ROS are highly reactive molecules that cause lipid peroxidation of
membranes. They also cause oxidative modification of proteins and DNA fragmentation.
This damage impairs cellular integrity and genetic stability. While other organelles are
affected, the membrane and DNA are the primary targets of oxidative stress. The
extracellular matrix is less directly affected by internal ROS production.
8. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in the brain following an ischemic stroke?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs when cells are digested by hydrolytic enzymes,
creating a liquid mass. This is characteristic of ischemic injury to neurons and glial cells in
the brain. Coagulative necrosis is more common in solid organs like the heart or kidneys.
Caseous necrosis is typical of tuberculosis infections. Fat necrosis occurs primarily in the
pancreas and adipose tissue.
9. Caseous necrosis is a unique form of cell death most commonly associated with which
infection?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Escherichia coli
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which type of cellular adaptation occurs when there is a decrease in cell size due to a loss
of stimulation or use?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by the loss of cell substance. It can be
caused by decreased workload, loss of innervation, or diminished blood supply.
Hypertrophy involves an increase in cell size rather than a decrease. Hyperplasia is an
increase in the number of cells in an organ. Metaplasia refers to a change from one adult
cell type to another.
2. What describes the cellular adaptation where one adult cell type is replaced by another cell
type that is better able to tolerate the environment?
A. Metaplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by
another. This often occurs in response to chronic irritation, such as smoking. Dysplasia is
characterized by deranged cell growth and is often a precursor to cancer. Hyperplasia is
simply an increase in the number of cells. Anaplasia refers to a lack of differentiation in
cells, usually seen in malignant tumors.
3. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, often in
response to hormonal stimulation?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
,D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hyperplasia is an adaptive mechanism where the cell population increases in
number. It can be physiologic, such as breast tissue growth during pregnancy. It differs
from hypertrophy, which only increases cell size. Atrophy is the reduction of cell size or
number. Dysplasia represents abnormal, disorganized growth patterns.
4. A patient with long-term untreated hypertension shows thickening of the left ventricular
wall. This is an example of:
A. Pathologic hypertrophy
B. Physiologic hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in response to a disease state like
hypertension. The cardiac myocytes increase in size to compensate for the increased
pressure they must pump against. This is not hyperplasia because cardiac muscle cells
generally do not divide. Metaplasia involves changing cell types, which does not happen
here. Atrophy would involve thinning of the wall rather than thickening.
5. Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Infectious agents
C. Chemical agents
D. Genetic defects
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is the leading cause of cell injury and death.
It can result from reduced blood flow, known as ischemia, or decreased oxygen-carrying
capacity of the blood. While chemical and infectious agents cause injury, they are less
frequent than oxygen deficiency. Genetic defects cause injury at a molecular level but are
not the most common global cause. Physical agents like trauma are also significant but
secondary to hypoxia.
6. What is the primary mechanism by which hypoxia causes cellular swelling?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Activation of the complement system
C. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
, D. Release of lysosomal enzymes
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP production, which is required for the sodium-
potassium pump. Without ATP, sodium accumulates inside the cell, drawing water in by
osmosis. This results in acute cellular swelling, also known as oncosis. Protein synthesis
actually decreases during hypoxia due to ribosomal detachment. Lysosomal enzyme
release usually occurs later during irreversible injury.
7. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) cause cellular injury primarily by damaging which of the
following?
A. Extracellular matrix
B. Cytoplasmic ribosomes
C. Cell membranes and DNA
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: ROS are highly reactive molecules that cause lipid peroxidation of
membranes. They also cause oxidative modification of proteins and DNA fragmentation.
This damage impairs cellular integrity and genetic stability. While other organelles are
affected, the membrane and DNA are the primary targets of oxidative stress. The
extracellular matrix is less directly affected by internal ROS production.
8. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in the brain following an ischemic stroke?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs when cells are digested by hydrolytic enzymes,
creating a liquid mass. This is characteristic of ischemic injury to neurons and glial cells in
the brain. Coagulative necrosis is more common in solid organs like the heart or kidneys.
Caseous necrosis is typical of tuberculosis infections. Fat necrosis occurs primarily in the
pancreas and adipose tissue.
9. Caseous necrosis is a unique form of cell death most commonly associated with which
infection?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Escherichia coli
