Histology: epithelial metaplasia: practice question

A Anatomy 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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Anatomy · Histology: epithelial metaplasia

Sample item

A 55-year-old man who has smoked for 30 years has a bronchial biopsy. The pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium of a segmental bronchus has been replaced by orderly stratified squamous epithelium. The nuclei are uniform and there is no atypia. Which term describes this change?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Metaplasia

Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one fully differentiated epithelium by another, here an adaptive response of airway epithelium to chronic irritation by tobacco smoke. The new epithelium is mature and orderly. Persistent exposure can lead on to dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Option by option

  • A. Dysplasia

    Dysplasia needs disordered maturation with nuclear atypia, which is absent here.

  • B. Metaplasia (correct)

    Correct. One mature epithelial type has been replaced by another mature type without atypia.

  • C. Hyperplasia

    Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells of the same type, not a change in cell type.

  • D. Anaplasia

    Anaplasia means loss of differentiation, as seen in poorly differentiated malignant cells.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Metaplasia. Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one fully differentiated epithelium by another, here an adaptive response of airway epithelium to chronic irritation by tobacco smoke.

Why is "Dysplasia" not the answer?

Dysplasia needs disordered maturation with nuclear atypia, which is absent here.

Why is "Hyperplasia" not the answer?

Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells of the same type, not a change in cell type.

Why is "Anaplasia" not the answer?

Anaplasia means loss of differentiation, as seen in poorly differentiated malignant cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Histology: epithelial metaplasia in Anatomy. The new epithelium is mature and orderly. Persistent exposure can lead on to dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

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 Histology: epithelial metaplasia?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy 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.