General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: Lipid in the tissues is detected by which stain?

Oil Red O. The detection of lipids in histological sections requires specific staining techniques because standard processing (using alcohol and xylene) dissolves fats. **Oil Red O** is a fat-soluble lysochrome dye that functions by physical solubility rather than a chemical reaction. It moves from its solvent into the lipid droplets of the tissue, staining triglycerides and lipoproteins a bright **red/orange** color. To preserve lipids, the tissue must be prepared using **frozen sections** (cryostat) rather than paraffin embedding. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff):** Used primarily to detect **glycogen** and mucopolysaccharides. It stains structures like basement membranes and fungal walls magenta. * **B. Myeloperoxidase (MPO):** A cytochemical stain used in hematology to differentiate **Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)** from Lymphocytic Leukemia. It detects the enzyme peroxidase in granulocytes. * **C. Mucicarmine:** Specifically used to detect **acid mucins**. It is a classic stain for *Cryptococcus neoformans* (staining the capsule red) and adenocarcinomas. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Sudan Black B** is another common stain for neutral lipids and is often used to study myelin sheaths. * **Osmium Tetroxide** is used to stain lipids **black** and is unique because it also acts as a fixative for electron microscopy. * **Clinical Application:** Oil Red O is diagnostic in identifying **Fat Embolism Syndrome** (detecting fat globules in sputum or urine) and characterizing lipid-rich tumors like liposarcomas.

Q: Which of the following statements about apoptosis is true?

Councilman bodies are associated with apoptosis. **Explanation:** **Apoptosis** is a process of programmed cell death characterized by specific morphological changes without the leakage of cellular contents. **Why Option C is correct:** **Councilman bodies** (also known as acidophilic bodies) are eosinophilic, rounded remnants of apoptotic hepatocytes. They are classically seen in **Viral Hepatitis** (especially Yellow Fever and Hepatitis B/C). During apoptosis, the cell shrinks and the chromatin condenses (pyknosis) followed by fragmentation (karyorrhexis), eventually forming membrane-bound **apoptotic bodies** that are phagocytosed. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Option A (Hypoxia):** Hypoxia typically leads to **Necrosis** (specifically coagulative necrosis), which is an accidental, energy-independent form of cell death resulting from severe injury. * **Option B (Inflammatory reaction):** A hallmark of apoptosis is the **absence of inflammation**. Because the cell membrane remains intact and apoptotic bodies are rapidly cleared by macrophages, no intracellular contents leak out to trigger an inflammatory response. In contrast, necrosis always incites inflammation. * **Option D (Cell membrane damage):** In apoptosis, the **cell membrane remains intact** but undergoes structural alterations (like the movement of phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet) to signal phagocytes. Loss of membrane integrity is a defining feature of necrosis. [1] **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls:** * **Key Morphological Feature:** Cell shrinkage (not swelling). * **Molecular Marker:** Caspases (Cysteine proteases) are the executioners of apoptosis. * **DNA Pattern:** "Step-ladder" pattern on gel electrophoresis (due to internucleosomal cleavage by endonucleases) [1]. * **Anti-apoptotic gene:** Bcl-2; **Pro-apoptotic genes:** Bax and Bak.

Question 1

Metastatic calcification is not seen in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Media of Monkeberg degeneration

Answer

Kidney tubules

Answer

Fundal glands of stomach

Answer

Alveoli of lungs

Question 2

Caseous necrosis is typically seen in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis

Answer

Sarcoidosis

Answer

Cryptococcal infection

Answer

Gangrene

Question 3

Which of the following is a marker of apoptosis?

Accepted Answer

CD95

Answer

CD 34

Answer

CD8

Answer

CD 110

Question 4

Lipid in the tissues is detected by which stain?

Accepted Answer

Oil Red O

Answer

PAS

Answer

Myeloperoxidase

Answer

Mucicarmine

Question 5

Which of the following is a membrane receptor defect?

Accepted Answer

Familial hypercholesterolemia

Answer

Thalassemia

Answer

Sickle cell disease

Answer

Henoch Schonlein purpura

Question 6

Which of the following statements about apoptosis is true?

Accepted Answer

Councilman bodies are associated with apoptosis

Answer

Injury due to hypoxia

Answer

Inflammatory reaction is present

Answer

Cell membrane is damaged

Question 7

Which of the following statements about calcification is true?

Accepted Answer

Psammoma bodies are formed with dystrophic calcification.

Answer

Calcification is most commonly seen in the kidneys.

Answer

Serum calcium is normal in metastatic calcification.

Answer

Mitochondria are the rarest organelles affected in calcification.

Question 8

Gamma Gandy bodies contain hemosiderin and what other substance?

Accepted Answer

Calcium

Answer

Sodium

Answer

Magnesium

Question 9

A 59-year-old man presents with acute chest pain. Laboratory studies and ECG indicate an acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography performed 2 hours later does not show evidence of thrombosis. Intravascular thrombolysis in this patient was mediated by plasminogen activators released by which of the following cells?

Accepted Answer

Endothelial cells

Answer

Cardiac myocytes

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

Vascular smooth muscle cells

Question 10

Which organelle plays the most important role in apoptosis?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Golgi complex

Answer

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

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