Understanding Pathology and Cellular Adaptation

Your patient asks why their retina is full of little red dots. You say:

• It’s a mystery. Let’s blame Mercury retrograde.

• That’s pathology—structural and functional changes in disease.

• Totally normal. Retinas love red polka dots.

• Must be leftover from your last eye exam.

Which of the following best describes pathogenesis?

• The cause of disease

• The steps from cause to full-blown disease

• Microscopic tissue structure

• A fancy term for when your eye randomly twitches

Which of the following is NOT a recognized cellular adaptation?

• Hypertrophy

• Atrophy

• Hyperventilation

• Metaplasia

What’s the goal of cellular adaptation in response to stress?

• Turn into a better version of itself, like a motivational poster

• Preserve viability and function in a changing environment

• Mutate into a supercell

• Become emotionally resilient

Which feature signals irreversible cell injury?

• Mild mitochondrial swelling

• Cell recovers after hypoxia

• Membrane rupture with enzyme leakage

• Transient fatigue after too much screen time

Which statement about apoptosis is TRUE?

• It's a messy process causing inflammation

• It only happens during trauma

• It’s clean, controlled, and inflammation-free

• It involves random cell explosions

A corneal ulcer showing liquefactive necrosis means:

• The cornea has turned into a lava lamp

• Enzymes digested tissue into liquid mush

• There's a cheese-like deposit

• Fat cells are invading the cornea

In an alkali burn, lysosomes cause tissue damage by:

• Reinforcing cell membranes

• Producing ATP for repair

• Releasing digestive enzymes after membrane rupture

• Blinding pathogens with bioluminescence

What do reactive oxygen species (ROS) do in age-related macular degeneration?

• Donate energy to photoreceptors

• Protect the lens from UV light

• Damage DNA, proteins, and membranes in retinal cells

• Regenerate retinal pigment epithelium

Diabetic retinopathy develops through which sequence?

• Hyperglycemia → Peace and tranquility

• Ischemia → VEGF release → Abnormal blood vessels

• Blood pressure → Lens clarity

• Insulin → Pigment regeneration