PATHOLOGY EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS|GRADED A+
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY & ADAPTATION
1. Which of the following is an example of reversible cellular injury?
• A) Cellular swelling (hydropic change)
• B) Fatty change (steatosis)
• C) Both A and B
• D) Necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) and fatty change (steatosis) are
examples of reversible cellular injury. Necrosis is irreversible. Reversible injury is
characterized by cellular swelling, fatty change, and loss of microvilli.
2. Which of the following is a feature of necrosis?
• A) Cell swelling
• B) Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis)
• C) Inflammation
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is characterized by cell swelling, nuclear changes (pyknosis =
shrinkage, karyorrhexis = fragmentation, karyolysis = dissolution), and
inflammation. Necrosis is irreversible and triggers an inflammatory response.
,3. Which of the following is a feature of apoptosis?
• A) Cell shrinkage
• B) No inflammation
• C) Caspase activation
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, formation of apoptotic bodies, and no inflammation. It is
mediated by caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases). Apoptosis occurs in normal
cell turnover and development.
4. Which of the following is an example of coagulative necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction (liquefactive)
• C) Tuberculosis (caseous)
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type of necrosis. It occurs in
ischemic injury to solid organs (heart, kidney, spleen). The tissue architecture is
preserved (ghost cells). The infarct is pale (white infarct).
5. Which of the following is an example of liquefactive necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
, • C) Tuberculosis (caseous)
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain (ischemic injury) and in
abscesses. The tissue is liquefied (digested by enzymes), forming a cavity filled with
fluid. It is caused by hydrolytic enzymes from neutrophils.
6. Which of the following is an example of caseous necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
• C) Tuberculosis
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis (cheese-like) is characteristic of tuberculosis
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive
necrosis. The tissue appears granular and friable (caseous). It is surrounded by
granulomatous inflammation.
7. Which of the following is an example of fat necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
• C) Tuberculosis
• D) Acute pancreatitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fat necrosis occurs in acute pancreatitis (pancreatic enzymes digest fat)
and in traumatic injury to adipose tissue. It is characterized by the formation of
, calcium soaps (saponification). Macroscopically, it appears as chalky white
deposits (fat saponification).
8. Which of the following is a feature of gangrenous necrosis?
• A) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
• B) Dry gangrene (dry, shrunken)
• C) Wet gangrene (wet, swollen)
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Gangrenous necrosis is coagulative necrosis with superimposed
infection (putrefaction). Dry gangrene occurs in ischemic limbs (dry, shrunken,
black). Wet gangrene occurs in internal organs with infection (wet, swollen, foul-
smelling).
9. Which of the following is a feature of hypertrophy?
• A) Increase in cell size
• B) Increase in organ size
• C) Increased protein synthesis
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size (and organ size) due to increased
protein synthesis. It occurs in response to increased workload. Examples include
cardiac hypertrophy (hypertension) and skeletal muscle hypertrophy (exercise).
10. Which of the following is a feature of hyperplasia?
• A) Increase in cell number
ANSWERS|GRADED A+
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY & ADAPTATION
1. Which of the following is an example of reversible cellular injury?
• A) Cellular swelling (hydropic change)
• B) Fatty change (steatosis)
• C) Both A and B
• D) Necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) and fatty change (steatosis) are
examples of reversible cellular injury. Necrosis is irreversible. Reversible injury is
characterized by cellular swelling, fatty change, and loss of microvilli.
2. Which of the following is a feature of necrosis?
• A) Cell swelling
• B) Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis)
• C) Inflammation
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is characterized by cell swelling, nuclear changes (pyknosis =
shrinkage, karyorrhexis = fragmentation, karyolysis = dissolution), and
inflammation. Necrosis is irreversible and triggers an inflammatory response.
,3. Which of the following is a feature of apoptosis?
• A) Cell shrinkage
• B) No inflammation
• C) Caspase activation
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, formation of apoptotic bodies, and no inflammation. It is
mediated by caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases). Apoptosis occurs in normal
cell turnover and development.
4. Which of the following is an example of coagulative necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction (liquefactive)
• C) Tuberculosis (caseous)
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type of necrosis. It occurs in
ischemic injury to solid organs (heart, kidney, spleen). The tissue architecture is
preserved (ghost cells). The infarct is pale (white infarct).
5. Which of the following is an example of liquefactive necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
, • C) Tuberculosis (caseous)
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain (ischemic injury) and in
abscesses. The tissue is liquefied (digested by enzymes), forming a cavity filled with
fluid. It is caused by hydrolytic enzymes from neutrophils.
6. Which of the following is an example of caseous necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
• C) Tuberculosis
• D) Pancreatic necrosis (fat necrosis)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis (cheese-like) is characteristic of tuberculosis
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive
necrosis. The tissue appears granular and friable (caseous). It is surrounded by
granulomatous inflammation.
7. Which of the following is an example of fat necrosis?
• A) Myocardial infarction
• B) Brain infarction
• C) Tuberculosis
• D) Acute pancreatitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fat necrosis occurs in acute pancreatitis (pancreatic enzymes digest fat)
and in traumatic injury to adipose tissue. It is characterized by the formation of
, calcium soaps (saponification). Macroscopically, it appears as chalky white
deposits (fat saponification).
8. Which of the following is a feature of gangrenous necrosis?
• A) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
• B) Dry gangrene (dry, shrunken)
• C) Wet gangrene (wet, swollen)
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Gangrenous necrosis is coagulative necrosis with superimposed
infection (putrefaction). Dry gangrene occurs in ischemic limbs (dry, shrunken,
black). Wet gangrene occurs in internal organs with infection (wet, swollen, foul-
smelling).
9. Which of the following is a feature of hypertrophy?
• A) Increase in cell size
• B) Increase in organ size
• C) Increased protein synthesis
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size (and organ size) due to increased
protein synthesis. It occurs in response to increased workload. Examples include
cardiac hypertrophy (hypertension) and skeletal muscle hypertrophy (exercise).
10. Which of the following is a feature of hyperplasia?
• A) Increase in cell number
