Free cytology MCQ exam model for basic medical students

Explanation:

• Squamous epithelial cells → Correct because they are easily shed and commonly examined in Pap smears.

• Cuboidal epithelial cells → Incorrect because they are less frequently exfoliated.

• Columnar epithelial cells → Incorrect because they are less abundant in smears.

• Transitional epithelial cells → Incorrect because they are mainly found in urinary tract cytology.

• Ciliated epithelial cells → Incorrect because they are not commonly exfoliated.

Explanation:

• Desmosome → Correct because they are prominent adhesion structures visible between cells.

• Gap junction → Incorrect because they are microscopic channels not easily visualized.

• Tight junction → Incorrect because they are thin and difficult to identify cytologically.

• Hemidesmosome → Incorrect because they attach cells to basement membrane.

• Adherens junction → Incorrect because they are less distinct in cytology.

Explanation:

• Low in normal cells → Correct because normal cells have abundant cytoplasm relative to nucleus.

• High in normal cells → Incorrect because high N:C ratio is a feature of malignancy.

• Absent in normal cells → Incorrect because all cells have an N:C ratio.

• Equal in all cells → Incorrect because it varies with cell type and pathology.

• Unrelated to malignancy → Incorrect because increased N:C ratio suggests malignancy.

Explanation:

• Ribosome → Correct because it translates mRNA into proteins.

• Golgi apparatus → Incorrect because it modifies proteins after synthesis.

• Mitochondrion → Incorrect because it produces ATP.

• Lysosome → Incorrect because it digests cellular waste.

• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum → Incorrect because it synthesizes lipids.

Explanation:

• Papanicolaou stain → Correct because it is specifically designed for exfoliative cytology of cervical cells.

• Hematoxylin and eosin → Incorrect because it is mainly used for histological sections.

• Gram stain → Incorrect because it is used for bacteria.

• Ziehl–Neelsen stain → Incorrect because it detects acid-fast bacilli.

• Giemsa stain → Incorrect because it is mainly used for blood smears.

Explanation:

• Apoptosis → Correct because it involves programmed cell death with cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation.

• Necrosis → Incorrect because it causes cell swelling and membrane rupture.

• Autophagy → Incorrect because it involves self-digestion of cell components.

• Inflammation → Incorrect because it is a tissue response, not cell death.

• Metaplasia → Incorrect because it is reversible change in cell type.

Explanation:

• Macrophage → Correct because it engulfs and digests foreign particles.

• Lymphocyte → Incorrect because it is involved in immune regulation.

• Plasma cell → Incorrect because it produces antibodies.

• Erythrocyte → Incorrect because it transports oxygen.

• Fibroblast → Incorrect because it produces connective tissue fibers.

Explanation:

• Nucleus → Correct because it contains genetic material and regulates cellular activities.

• Mitochondrion → Incorrect because it produces ATP.

• Golgi apparatus → Incorrect because it modifies and packages proteins.

• Ribosome → Incorrect because it synthesizes proteins.

• Lysosome → Incorrect because it contains digestive enzymes.

Explanation:

• Cells → Correct because cytology specifically deals with the structure, function, and pathology of cells.

• Tissues → Incorrect because tissues are studied under histology.

• Organs → Incorrect because organs are composed of multiple tissues.

• Systems → Incorrect because systems involve groups of organs.

• Whole organisms → Incorrect because this is covered under biology, not cytology.

Explanation:

• Hyperchromasia → Correct because malignant cells show darkly stained nuclei due to increased DNA.

• Uniform nuclear size → Incorrect because malignancy shows pleomorphism.

• Low nuclear–cytoplasmic ratio → Incorrect because malignancy has a high ratio.

• Smooth nuclear membrane → Incorrect because malignant nuclei have irregular membranes.

• Regular chromatin pattern → Incorrect because malignancy shows coarse chromatin.