Cell injury: practice question

A Pathology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pathology · Cell injury

Sample item

Which cellular change is a classic reversible response to acute hypoxic injury?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cellular swelling

Early hypoxic injury impairs ATP-dependent ion pumps, allowing sodium and water to enter cells and producing reversible cellular swelling before irreversible membrane and nuclear damage develops.

Option by option

  • A. Cellular swelling (correct)

    Correct: cellular swelling is an early potentially reversible hypoxic change.

  • B. Membrane rupture with enzyme leakage

    Membrane rupture indicates severe irreversible injury.

  • C. Dystrophic calcification

    Dystrophic calcification occurs in damaged or necrotic tissue later.

  • D. Nuclear fragmentation

    Nuclear fragmentation is a feature of irreversible cell death.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is A, Cellular swelling. Early hypoxic injury impairs ATP-dependent ion pumps, allowing sodium and water to enter cells and producing reversible cellular swelling before irreversible membrane and nuclear damage develops.

Why is "Membrane rupture with enzyme leakage" not the answer?

Membrane rupture indicates severe irreversible injury.

Why is "Dystrophic calcification" not the answer?

Dystrophic calcification occurs in damaged or necrotic tissue later.

Why is "Nuclear fragmentation" not the answer?

Nuclear fragmentation is a feature of irreversible cell death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cell injury in Pathology. The correct option holds because: Correct: cellular swelling is an early potentially reversible hypoxic change.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cell injury?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.