Pathology Important Questions For MBBS 2nd Year [Question Bank]

by

Here is a list of important Pathology questions for second-year MBBS students. Students can make use of this question bank for the preparation of the subject. For your convenience, the questions have been arranged in a chapter-wise format.

As you complete each chapter in Pathology, refer to the following list of important questions. You can bookmark this page for a quicker revisit. 

There are dozens of Pathology Textbooks out there, making it difficult for medical students to decide which ones to purchase. To make it easier for you, I’ve handpicked BEST and MOST RECOMMENDED textbooks:

FOR EXAM PREPARATION
FOR REFERENCE
FOR IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE

Also, check out my complete list of NMC recommended books for MBBS 2nd year.

Best Books for MBBS Second Year [NMC Recommended List]

The questions have been arranged according to the following chapters:

  1. Cell Injury and Adaptation
  2. Inflammation and Healing
  3. Infections and Infestations
  4. Hemodynamic Disorders, Thromboembolism and Shock
  5. Immunopathology, AIDS and Amyloidosis
  6. Neoplasia
  7. Genetic and Pediatric Diseases
  8. Environmental and Nutritional Diseases
  9. Basic Diagnostic Cytology
  10. Introduction to Hematology and Disorders of Red Blood Cell
  11. Disorders of White Blood Cells, Lymph Node and Spleen
  12. Disorders of Hemostasis
  13. Clinical Pathology
  14. Blood Banking and Transfusion
  15. Cardiovascular Disorders
  16. Respiratory System
  17. Disorders of Oral Cavities and Gastrointestinal Tract
  18. Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disorders
  19. Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders
  20. Male Genital Tract Disorders
  21. Female Gential Tract Disorders
  22. Breast Disorders
  23. Endocrine Disorders
  24. Bones, Joints and Soft Tissue Tumours
  25. Skin Disorders
  26. Disorders of Central Nervous System and Eye

A star ★ indicates that the question is extremely important, so these should be the first ones to concentrate on.

Pathology Important Questions

Cell Injury and Adaptation

Long Questions

  1. Define necrosis. Mention the types, and explain the causes and pathology of each type of necrosis.

Short Questions 

  1. Steatosis (fatty change).
  2. Fatty liver.
  3. Exogenous and endogenous pigments.
  4. Necrosis – definition, types with examples. ★
  5. Apoptosis – definition and mechanism. ★
  6. Difference between necrosis and apoptosis.
  7. Gangrene and its types. ★
  8. Difference between dry and wet gangrene.
  9. Pathological calcification. ★
  10. Dystrophic calcification.
  11. Metastatic calcification.
  12. Metaplasia with examples. ★
  13. Hyaline change.
  14. Psamoma bodies.
  15. Hyperplasia.

Inflammation and Healing

Long Questions

  1. Inflammation – definition and types. Describe the causes and vascular and cellular events in acute inflammation. ★
  2. Compare with the help of suitable diagrams wound healing by primary and secondary intention. Discuss the factors promoting and delaying the process.

Short Questions

  1. Vascular changes in acute inflammation.
  2. Difference between transudate and exudate.
  3. Chemotaxis. ★
  4. Phagocytosis. ★
  5. Chemical mediators of inflammation. ★
  6. Role of arachidonic acid metabolites in acute inflammation.
  7. Role of complements in inflammation.
  8. Granulomatous lymphadenitis.
  9. Angiogenesis (neovascularization) in repair.
  10. Factors influencing wound healing. ★
  11. Complications of wound healing. ★
  12. Granulation tissue.

Infections and Infestations

Long Questions

  1. Define and classify leprosy. Describe the pathogenesis and pathology.

Short Questions 

  1. Morphology of tuberculoid leprosy.
  2. Morphology of lepromatous leprosy. ★
  3. Difference between tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy.
  4. Granuloma. 
  5. Congenital syphilis.

Hemodynamic Disorders, Thromboembolism and Shock

Long Questions

  1. Etiopathogenesis of endotoxic (septic) shock. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Define and describe the pathogenesis of thrombus. Add a note on fate of the thrombus. ★
  2. Discuss the causes and pathogenesis of generalized edema.
  3. What is embolism? Mention different types of embolism with examples. ★
  4. Chronic venous congestion of the lung.
  5. Chronic venous congestion of the liver.
  6. Air embolism.
  7. Define infarction. What are the different types of infarcts with common sites of occurrence? ★

Immunopathology, AIDS and Amyloidosis

Short Questions 

  1. Opportunistic infections in AIDS. ★
  2. Type I hypersensitivity reaction. ★
  3. Type II hypersensitivity reaction. 
  4. Type III hypersensitivity reaction. ★
  5. Type IV hypersensitivity (delayed type of hypersensitivity).
  6. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  7. Lupus erythematosus (LE) cell and its associated conditions.
  8. Graft versus host disease (GVHD).
  9. Staining characteristics of amyloid and its appearances.
  10. Special stains to confirm amyloid. ★

Neoplasia

Long Questions

  1. Define metastasis and describe its mechanism. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Dysplasia.
  2. Differences between benign and malignant neoplasms. ★
  3. Routes of the spread of malignant tumours with examples. ★
  4. Oncogene.
  5. Role of tumour suppressor genes in oncogenesis.
  6. TP53 gene. ★
  7. Chemical carcinogenesis. ★
  8. Chemical carcinogens.
  9. Paraneoplastic syndrome.
  10. Tumour markers. ★
  11. Oncogenic viruses. 

Genetic and Pediatric Diseases

Short Questions 

  1. Barr body (sex chromatin).
  2. Down syndrome. ★
  3. Klinefelter’s syndrome. ★
  4. Turner’s syndrome. ★
  5. Laboratory diagnosis of genetic diseases.
  6. Gaucher disease.

Environmental and Nutritional Diseases

Short Questions 

  1. Enumerate the cancers associated with chronic smoking. ★
  2. Enumerate the cancers associated with chronic alcoholism. ★
  3. Obesity.
  4. Vitamin A deficiency. ★
  5. Rickets.
  6. Osteomalacia.
  7. Scurvy. ★

Basic Diagnostic Cytology

Short Questions 

  1. Exfoliative cytology. ★
  2. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear – indications and importance.
  3. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). 

Introduction to Hematology and Disorders of Red Blood Cell

Long Questions

  1. Describe the etiology, clinical features and laboratory diagnosis of Iron deficiency anaemia. ★
  2. Hemolytic anaemia. ★

Short Questions 

  1. RBC indices.
  2. Define and classify anaemia.
  3. Microcytic hypochromic anaemia.
  4. Megaloblastic anaemia. ★
  5. Aplastic anaemia.
  6. Diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia. ★
  7. Sickling test.
  8. Pernicious anaemia.
  9. Pancytopenia
  10. Significance of reticulocytosis.
  11. Coomb’s test.

Disorders of White Blood Cells, Lymph Node and Spleen

Long Questions

  1. Define and classify leukaemias. Discuss peripheral blood smear findings and bone marrow findings associated with acute myeloid leukaemia. ★
  2. Define and classify leukaemias. Discuss peripheral blood smear findings and bone marrow findings associated with chronic myeloid leukaemia. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Tabulate the differences between myeloblast and lymphoblast.
  2. Leukemoid reaction. ★
  3. Agranulocytosis. ★
  4. Difference between leukaemia and leukemoid reaction.
  5. Causes of eosinophilia. ★
  6. Causes of monocytosis. ★
  7. Philadelphia chromosome.
  8. Blood picture in chronic myeloid leukaemia.
  9. Blood picture in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
  10. Laboratory findings in multiple myeloma. ★
  11. Bence Jones proteins and their demonstration.
  12. Lymphadenopathy.
  13. Lymphadenitis.
  14. Burkitt’s lymphoma. ★
  15. Classification of Hodgkin’s disease (Hodgkin’s lymphoma). ★
  16. Causes of splenomegaly.
  17. Types of Reed-Sternberg cells.
  18. Leukocytosis.
  19. Functional defect in neutrophils.

Disorders of Hemostasis

Short Questions 

  1. List the causes of thrombocytopenia. Discuss idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. ★
  2. Hemophilia A. ★
  3. Von Willebrand’s disease – clinical feature and laboratory diagnosis. ★
  4. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (aetiology and pathogenesis).

Clinical Pathology

Short Questions 

  1. Types of anticoagulants used in hematology.
  2. Indications and contraindications of bone marrow aspiration. ★
  3. Microscopic examination of urine.
  4. CSF findings in various types of meningitis.
  5. What are Romanowsky stains? Give examples.
  6. Packed cell volume (hematocrit) – define and its significance.
  7. What is buffy coat? Mention its importance.
  8. Wintrobe’s tube and its function.
  9. Osmotic fragility test.
  10. Oliguria.
  11. Proteinuria.
  12. Glucosuria.
  13. Ketonuria.
  14. Benedict’s test.
  15. Causes of dry tap of dry tip in bone marrow aspiration.
  16. Urine examination – sample collection and preservatives.
  17. Sulfosalicylic acid test.
  18. Hay’s sulfur test.
  19. Indications of lumbar puncture.

Blood Banking and Transfusion

Short Questions 

  1. Methods of blood grouping.
  2. Bombay blood group.
  3. Blood donor selection criteria. ★
  4. Name the available blood components.
  5. Infections transmitted by blood transfusion. ★
  6. Blood transfusion reactions. ★

Cardiovascular Disorders

Long Questions

  1. Define atherosclerosis. Discuss the risk factors, etiopathogenesis and pathology of atherosclerosis. Also briefly write about the sites and clinical significance of atherosclerosis. Describe the morphology (along with a neat and labelled diagram) of an atherosclerotic plaque. Mention the complications of atherosclerosis. ★
  2. Classify myocardial infarction. Describe the etiopathogenesis, morphology/sequential changes seen over time. Add a note on laboratory diagnosis. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Causes, types and complications of aneurysms. 
  2. Laboratory diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
  3. Describe various types of cardiac vegetations in endocarditis.
  4. Infective endocarditis.
  5. Rheumatic heart disease. ★
  6. Libman Sacks endocarditis.
  7. Patent ductus arteriosus.
  8. Fallot’s tetralogy – components and complications.
  9. Coarctation of the aorta.

Respiratory System

Long Questions

  1. What is emphysema? Write the types of emphysema. Describe the pathogenesis of emphysema. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Types of emphysema. ★
  2. Bronchial asthma.
  3. Bronchiectasis. ★
  4. Lobar pneumonia.
  5. Lung abscess.
  6. Primary tuberculosis.
  7. Ghon lesion. ★
  8. Asbestosis. ★
  9. Classify lung tumours. Discuss the pathogenesis, morphology and clinical features including paraneoplastic syndromes of squamous cell carcinoma lung.
  10. Small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Disorders of Oral Cavities and Gastrointestinal Tract

Short Questions 

  1. Leukoplakia – definition and morphology. ★
  2. Pleomorphic adenoma.
  3. Warthin’s tumour – microscopy. ★
  4. Barrett’s esophagus. ★
  5. Etiopathogenesis of peptic ulcer. ★
  6. Role of Helicobacter pylori in gastric ulcer. ★
  7. Gastric carcinoma. ★
  8. Carcinoid tumour.
  9. Carcinoid syndrome.
  10. Tabulate the differences between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. ★
  11. Hirschsprung disease.
  12. Etiopathogenesis of colonic carcinoma.
  13. Meckel’s diverticulum.

Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disorders

Short Questions 

  1. Hyperbilirubinemia.
  2. Laboratory investigations in jaundice. ★
  3. Squeal of hepatitis B infection.
  4. Alcoholic liver disease – etiopathogenesis and pathology. ★
  5. Cirrhosis. ★
  6. Portal hypertension.
  7. Hemochromatosis.
  8. Amebic liver abscess – morphology. ★
  9. Hepatocellular carcinoma.
  10. Gallstones (cholelithiasis) – etiopathogenesis and complications. ★
  11. Acute pancreatitis – etiopathogenesis, morphology and complications. ★
  12. Chronic pancreatitis.

Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders

Long Questions

  1. Describe the etiopathogenesis of acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis or post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. 

Short Questions 

  1. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.
  2. Nephrotic syndrome.
  3. Minimal lesion glomerulonephritis/or minimal change disease.
  4. Difference between nephrotic syndrome and nephritic syndrome. ★
  5. Renal changes in diabetes mellitus (diabetic nephropathy). ★
  6. Chronic pyelonephritis.
  7. Kidney changes in malignant hypertension.
  8. Horseshoe kidney.
  9. Cystic disease of the kidney.
  10. Polycystic kidney disease.
  11. Hydronephrosis. ★
  12. Enumerate types of renal stones. ★
  13. Morphology of renal cell carcinoma. ★
  14. Flea-bitten kidney.
  15. Microalbuminuria.
  16. Morphology of Wilm’s tumour.

Male Genital Tract Disorders

Short Questions 

  1. Premalignant lesions of the penis.
  2. Benign hyperplasia of the prostate. ★
  3. Cryptochidism.
  4. Classify testicular tumours. Describe the etiology and morphology of seminoma. ★

Female Gential Tract Disorders

Long Questions

  1. Classify ovarian tumours. Describe the morphological features of serous tumours of ovary. ★
  2. Classify ovarian tumours. Describe the morphological features of mucinous tumours of ovary.

Short Questions 

  1. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). ★
  2. Endometriosis.
  3. Leiomyoma – sites and morphology. ★
  4. Brenner tumour of ovary.
  5. Ovarian germ cell tumours.
  6. Teratoma of ovary. ★
  7. Dermoid cyst. 
  8. Dysgerminoma.
  9. Granulosa cell tumour of ovary.
  10. Kruckenberg’s tumour – morphology. ★
  11. Trophoblastic tumours.
  12. Hydatidiform mole. ★
  13. Choriocarcinoma.

Breast Disorders

Short Questions 

  1. Fibrocystic disease of breast or fibrocystic change.
  2. Classification of breast carcinoma.
  3. Medullary carcinoma of breast.
  4. Prognostic and predictive factors of carcinoma of the breast. ★
  5. Fibroadenoma of the breast. ★
  6. Phyllodes tumour – morphology. ★
  7. Gynecomastia.

Endocrine Disorders

Long Questions

  1. Discuss the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mention its major long-term complications. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Hashimato’s thyroiditis – etiopathogenesis and morphology. ★
  2. Grave’s disease – etiopathogenesis and morphology. ★
  3. Thyrotoxicosis.
  4. Iodine deficiency goitre.
  5. Multinodular goitre. ★
  6. Thyroid adenoma.
  7. Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. ★
  8. Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. ★
  9. Pheochromocytoma. ★
  10. Multiple endocrine neoplasia.
  11. List the complications of diabetes mellitus. ★
  12. Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
  13. Renal glycosuria.
  14. HbA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin).

Bones, Joints and Soft Tissue Tumours

Long Questions

  1. Classify tumours of the bone. Describe the etiopathogenesis and morphology of osteogenic sarcoma/osteosarcoma. ★

Short Questions 

  1. Complications of osteomyelitis.
  2. Tuberculous osteomyelitis.
  3. Paget’s disease of bone. ★
  4. Classify tumours of the bone. Describe the morphology of osteoclastoma (giant cell tumour of bone). ★
  5. Ewing’s tumour/Ewing sarcoma.★
  6. Rheumatoid arthritis.
  7. Sequestrum.
  8. Renal osteodystrophy.
  9. Pott’s spine.
  10. Morphology of chondrosarcoma.
  11. Gouty tophi.
  12. Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Skin Disorders

Short Questions 

  1. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin (rodent ulcer) – etiopathogenesis and morphology. ★
  2. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin – etiopathogenesis and morphology. ★
  3. Malignant melanoma – etiopathogenesis and morphology. ★
  4. Pilomatrixoma.
  5. Molluscum contagiosum.
  6. Psoriasis.

Disorders of Central Nervous System and Eye

Short Questions 

  1. Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
  2. Pyogenic meningitis. ★ 
  3. Astrocytoma.
  4. Medulloblastoma.
  5. Meningioma. ★
  6. Schwannoma.
  7. TB meningitis.
  8. Brain abscess.

Leave a Comment