D236 Pathophysiology: Cellular Injury, Adaptation & Inflammation
Practice Pack 2026 |WGU
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of
cells in an organ or tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased
rate of cellular division.
2. A patient with chronic high blood pressure has an enlarged left ventricle. This
is an example of:
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, which consequently increases the
size of the organ.
,3. The replacement of normal ciliated columnar epithelium with stratified
squamous epithelium in a smoker’s airway is:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often less differentiated, cell type.
4. Which term describes abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells, often considered pre-cancerous?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization; it is
not a true adaptive process but is related to hyperplasia.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical agents
C. Free radicals
D. Infectious agents
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
, 6. Which of the following is the most common cause of hypoxia?
A. Reduced atmospheric oxygen
B. Ischemia
C. Loss of hemoglobin
D. Poisoning of oxidative enzymes
Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia, or reduced blood supply, is the most common cause of hypoxia.
7. Restoration of oxygen to ischemic tissues can cause additional injury termed:
A. Ischemic stroke
B. Necrotic injury
C. Apoptotic injury
D. Reperfusion injury
Answer: D
Rationale: Reperfusion injury results from the generation of highly reactive oxygen
species (free radicals) that cause further membrane damage.
8. Which molecule is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause oxidative
stress?
A. Sodium
B. Bicarbonate
C. Hydroxyl radical
D. Glucose
Answer: C
Rationale: The hydroxyl radical is a potent ROS that causes lipid peroxidation and damage
to proteins and DNA.
Practice Pack 2026 |WGU
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of
cells in an organ or tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting from an increased
rate of cellular division.
2. A patient with chronic high blood pressure has an enlarged left ventricle. This
is an example of:
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, which consequently increases the
size of the organ.
,3. The replacement of normal ciliated columnar epithelium with stratified
squamous epithelium in a smoker’s airway is:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often less differentiated, cell type.
4. Which term describes abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells, often considered pre-cancerous?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization; it is
not a true adaptive process but is related to hyperplasia.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical agents
C. Free radicals
D. Infectious agents
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
, 6. Which of the following is the most common cause of hypoxia?
A. Reduced atmospheric oxygen
B. Ischemia
C. Loss of hemoglobin
D. Poisoning of oxidative enzymes
Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia, or reduced blood supply, is the most common cause of hypoxia.
7. Restoration of oxygen to ischemic tissues can cause additional injury termed:
A. Ischemic stroke
B. Necrotic injury
C. Apoptotic injury
D. Reperfusion injury
Answer: D
Rationale: Reperfusion injury results from the generation of highly reactive oxygen
species (free radicals) that cause further membrane damage.
8. Which molecule is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause oxidative
stress?
A. Sodium
B. Bicarbonate
C. Hydroxyl radical
D. Glucose
Answer: C
Rationale: The hydroxyl radical is a potent ROS that causes lipid peroxidation and damage
to proteins and DNA.
