General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: What is the best method for confirming amyloidosis?

Rectal biopsy. **Explanation:** Amyloidosis is a systemic disorder characterized by the extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrillar proteins. To confirm the diagnosis, a tissue biopsy demonstrating **Congo Red staining** with characteristic **apple-green birefringence** under polarized light is the gold standard. **Why Rectal Biopsy is the Correct Answer:** Historically and for exam purposes, **rectal biopsy** is considered a highly reliable method for confirming systemic amyloidosis. It has a high diagnostic yield (approximately 75–85%) because the submucosal vessels of the rectum are frequently involved in the disease process. It is preferred over more invasive organ biopsies (like kidney or liver) due to a lower risk of procedural bleeding, which is a significant concern in amyloid patients due to factor X deficiency and vascular friability. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Colonoscopy & Sigmoidoscopy:** These are endoscopic procedures used to visualize the bowel. While they are used to perform a biopsy, the procedure itself is not the "method of confirmation"; the histological examination of the tissue is. * **Tongue Biopsy:** Although the tongue is a common site for macroglossia in AL amyloidosis, a biopsy here is painful and carries a higher morbidity compared to other sites. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Abdominal Fat Pad Aspiration:** In modern clinical practice, this is often the **initial** screening test of choice due to its non-invasive nature and high sensitivity (approx. 80%). * **Staining:** Congo Red is the classic stain. Thioflavin T (fluorescence) is more sensitive but less specific. * **Most Common Involved Organ:** The Kidney (often presenting as Nephrotic Syndrome). * **Most Common Cause of Death:** Cardiac involvement (Restrictive Cardiomyopathy/Arrhythmias).

Q: Which tissue is most susceptible to hypoxia?

Neurons. **Explanation:** The susceptibility of a tissue to hypoxia is directly proportional to its metabolic rate and its dependence on continuous aerobic respiration. **Why Neurons are the Correct Answer:** Neurons have the highest metabolic demand in the body and possess virtually no stores of glycogen or oxygen. They rely exclusively on a continuous supply of glucose and oxygen to maintain the Na+/K+ ATPase pump, which preserves membrane potential. Irreversible damage to cortical neurons occurs within just **3–5 minutes** of total oxygen deprivation. This makes the brain the most hypoxia-sensitive organ. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A & D. Muscle/Myocytes:** Skeletal muscle is highly resistant to hypoxia because it contains significant stores of glycogen and myoglobin (which stores oxygen). It can also switch to anaerobic glycolysis for extended periods. Cardiac myocytes are more sensitive than skeletal muscle but can still survive hypoxia for approximately 20–30 minutes before irreversible necrosis (infarction) occurs. * **C. Hepatocytes:** While metabolically active, hepatocytes have better regenerative capacity and can tolerate hypoxia longer than neurons (typically up to 1–2 hours) due to different enzymatic pathways and glycogen stores. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** 1. **Hierarchy of Sensitivity:** Neurons > Cardiac Myocytes > Hepatocytes > Skeletal Muscle > Connective Tissue/Skin. 2. **Selective Vulnerability:** Within the brain, the most sensitive areas to hypoxia are the **Pyramidal cells of the Hippocampus (Sommer’s sector)** and the **Purkinje cells of the Cerebellum**. 3. **Critical Threshold:** The brain consumes roughly 20% of the body's total oxygen despite being only 2% of body weight.

Question 1

Which of the following conditions is due to deposition of cholesterol?

Accepted Answer

Cholesterol

Answer

Glycogen

Answer

Water

Answer

Calcium

Question 2

What is the best method for confirming amyloidosis?

Accepted Answer

Rectal biopsy

Answer

Colonoscopy

Answer

Sigmoidoscopy

Answer

Tongue biopsy

Question 3

Which tissue is most susceptible to hypoxia?

Accepted Answer

Neurons

Answer

Muscle

Answer

Hepatocytes

Answer

Myocytes

Question 4

Which one of the following inherited disorders produces thrombosis?

Accepted Answer

Homocysteinemia

Answer

Factor V Leiden mutation

Answer

Antithrombin deficiency

Answer

Protein S deficiency

Question 5

Tigered effect in tissues is due to accumulation of:

Accepted Answer

Fat

Answer

Calcium

Answer

Fibrin

Answer

Copper

Question 6

What is true about metastatic calcification?

Accepted Answer

Principally affects the kidneys, lungs, and gastric mucosa

Answer

Serum calcium level is normal

Answer

Occurs in dead or dying tissue

Answer

Occurs in damaged heart valves

Question 7

Chediak-Higashi syndrome is characterized by the following findings, except?

Accepted Answer

It results in effective phagolysosome formation.

Answer

It is an autosomal recessive disorder.

Answer

It involves mutation in the LYST gene.

Answer

It is associated with oculocutaneous albinism.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT an autosomal dominant disorder?

Accepted Answer

Alkaptonuria

Answer

Polycystic kidney disease

Answer

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Answer

Osteogenesis imperfecta

Question 9

Which anticoagulant is the choice for anticoagulation testing?

Accepted Answer

3.2% trisodium citrate

Answer

Heparin

Answer

EDTA

Answer

Sodium oxalate

Question 10

Which of the following is an apoptosis inhibitor gene?

Accepted Answer

BCL-2

Answer

p53

Answer

Rb

Answer

c-myc

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?