UExcel Pathophysiology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism in type 2 diabetes mellitus?
- Autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas
- Insulin resistance combined with relative insulin deficiency (Correct answer)
- Complete absence of insulin production
- Excessive glucagon secretion only
Correct answer: Insulin resistance combined with relative insulin deficiency
Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance in peripheral tissues along with progressive beta-cell dysfunction and relative insulin deficiency.
Question 2: In heart failure, cardiac output decreases because:
- The heart beats too fast to fill properly or cannot pump effectively enough to meet body demands (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure is always too low
- The kidneys fail to retain sodium
- Peripheral vascular resistance decreases
Correct answer: The heart beats too fast to fill properly or cannot pump effectively enough to meet body demands
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's metabolic demands, due to reduced contractility or impaired filling.
Question 3: What distinguishes a benign tumor from a malignant tumor?
- Benign tumors are always small; malignant tumors are large
- Benign tumors are encapsulated and do not invade surrounding tissue; malignant tumors invade and can metastasize (Correct answer)
- Benign tumors occur only in skin; malignant tumors occur internally
- Benign tumors always require surgery; malignant tumors do not
Correct answer: Benign tumors are encapsulated and do not invade surrounding tissue; malignant tumors invade and can metastasize
Benign tumors are encapsulated and localized, while malignant tumors invade adjacent tissue and can spread (metastasize) to distant sites.
Question 4: Which cellular adaptation involves the replacement of one mature cell type with another?
- Hypertrophy
- Atrophy
- Hyperplasia
- Metaplasia (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Metaplasia
Metaplasia is the reversible substitution of one differentiated cell type for another, often in response to chronic irritation.
Question 5: What is the main cause of atherosclerosis?
- Viral infection of arterial walls
- Accumulation of lipids, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue forming plaques in arterial walls (Correct answer)
- Autoimmune destruction of arterial endothelium
- Bacterial colonization of the coronary arteries
Correct answer: Accumulation of lipids, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue forming plaques in arterial walls
Atherosclerosis results from endothelial injury followed by lipid deposition, inflammation, and plaque formation in arterial walls.
Question 6: In anemia, the most common symptom results from:
- Excess red blood cells clogging capillaries
- Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood causing tissue hypoxia (Correct answer)
- Elevated white blood cell counts
- Decreased blood volume only
Correct answer: Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood causing tissue hypoxia
Anemia reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath due to tissue hypoxia.
UExcel Pathophysiology 1
What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism in type 2 diabetes mellitus?