NSG 3280 Exams 1–4 Pathophysiology Complete
Exam Bundle | Galen College
1. A patient with chronic hepatitis develops liver fibrosis.
This is an example of:
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D – Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of
one differentiated cell type by another, often due to
chronic irritation. In liver disease, fibroblasts replace
hepatocytes with scar tissue (though true fibrosis is not
classic metaplasia, exam context points to adaptive
substitution).
2. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the
myocardium of a patient with long-standing hypertension?
A. Atrophy
1
,B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B – Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide; they
respond to increased workload by increasing in size
(hypertrophy).
3. A patient’s leg is in a cast for 6 weeks. On removal,
the calf muscle appears smaller. This is due to:
A. Dystrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B – Atrophy
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs from decreased
workload, leading to reduced cell size.
4. Which change is considered irreversible cell injury?
A. Fatty change
2
,B. Cellular swelling
C. Apoptosis
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: D – Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is always pathologic and irreversible;
apoptosis can be physiologic or pathologic but is
regulated.
5. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of:
A. Brain infarction
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Pancreatitis
D. Tuberculosis
Correct Answer: B – Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue
architecture for days; typical in solid organs except brain.
6. A patient with tuberculosis develops caseous necrosis.
Grossly, this appears:
A. Firm and pale
3
, B. Soft and yellow-white, cheesy
C. Liquid and bloody
D. Gelatinous
Correct Answer: B – Soft and yellow-white, cheesy
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a combination of
coagulative and liquefactive necrosis with a cheese-like
appearance.
7. Which enzyme is released from necrotic pancreatic
cells and digests fat into fatty acids, which bind calcium?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Protease
D. Elastase
Correct Answer: B – Lipase
Rationale: Lipase breaks down triglycerides; released
fatty acids bind calcium, causing fat saponification (fat
necrosis).
4
Exam Bundle | Galen College
1. A patient with chronic hepatitis develops liver fibrosis.
This is an example of:
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D – Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of
one differentiated cell type by another, often due to
chronic irritation. In liver disease, fibroblasts replace
hepatocytes with scar tissue (though true fibrosis is not
classic metaplasia, exam context points to adaptive
substitution).
2. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the
myocardium of a patient with long-standing hypertension?
A. Atrophy
1
,B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B – Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide; they
respond to increased workload by increasing in size
(hypertrophy).
3. A patient’s leg is in a cast for 6 weeks. On removal,
the calf muscle appears smaller. This is due to:
A. Dystrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B – Atrophy
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs from decreased
workload, leading to reduced cell size.
4. Which change is considered irreversible cell injury?
A. Fatty change
2
,B. Cellular swelling
C. Apoptosis
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: D – Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is always pathologic and irreversible;
apoptosis can be physiologic or pathologic but is
regulated.
5. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of:
A. Brain infarction
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Pancreatitis
D. Tuberculosis
Correct Answer: B – Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue
architecture for days; typical in solid organs except brain.
6. A patient with tuberculosis develops caseous necrosis.
Grossly, this appears:
A. Firm and pale
3
, B. Soft and yellow-white, cheesy
C. Liquid and bloody
D. Gelatinous
Correct Answer: B – Soft and yellow-white, cheesy
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a combination of
coagulative and liquefactive necrosis with a cheese-like
appearance.
7. Which enzyme is released from necrotic pancreatic
cells and digests fat into fatty acids, which bind calcium?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Protease
D. Elastase
Correct Answer: B – Lipase
Rationale: Lipase breaks down triglycerides; released
fatty acids bind calcium, causing fat saponification (fat
necrosis).
4
