NR 283 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Concepts to Review
2026
, NR 283 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Concepts to Review
Cellular Biology/Cellular Adaptation/Cellular Injury Chapter 1
o Cellular Adaptation
o Atrophy – decrease in size of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass (immobilized limb in
a cast)
o Hypertrophy – increase in size of cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass (enlarged
heart muscle)
o Hyperplasia – increase in number of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass (could be
compensatory mechanism or hormonal imbalance, cancer)
o Metaplasia – one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type (could be
compensatory mechanism)
o Dysplasia – tissue in which the cell varies size & shape, large nuclei are frequently
present, and the rate of mitosis is increased (precancerous - cervical cells)
o Anaplasia – cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and
numerous mitotic figures (in most malignant tumors; basis for grading aggressive tumors)
o Neoplasia “new growth”; Neo - new, Plasm - growth
o Benign – less serious, do not spread, non-life threatening unless found in certain
locations (i.e. brain)
o Malignant – undifferentiated & nonfunctional cells that do not appear organized;
rapid production & abnormal mitotic figures; cancer
o Vocabulary Terms at on page 6-8 (Under headings of “Characteristics of Disease” and “Disease
Prognosis.”)
Characteristic of Disease:
o Pathogenesis: refers to the development of the disease or the sequence of the events
involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process
o Acute disease: indicates a short-term illness that develops quickly with marked signs such
as high fever or severe pain
o Chronic disease: milder condition developing gradually, such as rheumatoid arthritis, but
it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue damage. Usually
marked by intermittent acute episodes.
o Subclinical State: exist in some conditions in which pathological changes occur but the
patient exhibits no obvious manifestations, perhaps because of the great reserve capacity
of some organs.
o Latent State: silent stage, in which no clinical signs are evident,
o Incubation Period: which is the time between exposure to the microorganism and the
onset of signs or symptoms.
o Prodromal Period: period compromises the time the early development of a disease when
one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific
o Manifestations: of a disease are the clinical evidence or effects, the signs, and symptoms,
of the disease
, o Local: found at the site of the problem
o Systemic: general indicators of illness
o Signs: objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the affected
individual. Can be local or systemic
o Symptoms: subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea
o Lesion: term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue. Can be microscopic
o Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one organ, that
usually occur together in response to a certain condition
o Diagnostic tests: laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease
o Remission: is a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease subside,
either permanently or temporarily
o Exacerbations: is a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its signs/symptoms
o Precipitating Factor: condition that triggers an acute episode
o Complications: are new secondary or additional problems that arise after the original
disease begins
o Therapy/ therapeutic interventions: treatment measures used to promote recovery or slow
the progress of a disease. Ex: surgery, drugs, physiotherapy, therapies, behavior
modifications
o Sequelae: the potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition, such as paralysis
following recovery from stroke
o Convalescence or rehabilitation: period of recovery and return to the normal healthy
state, may last days or months
Disease Prognosis:
o Prognosis: probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes
o Morbidity: indicates the disease rate within a group
o Mortality: indicate the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease
o Autopsy: examination of all or part of the body by a pathologist
o Epidemiology: science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
o Occurrence: tracked by two factors
o Incidence: the number of new cases in a given population noted within a stated
time frame.
o Prevalence: number of new and old or existing cases within a specific population
and time frame.
o Epidemics: occur when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an infectious
disease within a given area
o Pandemics: higher numbers of cases in many regions of the globe
o Communicable: disease or infections that can be spread from one person to another
o Notifiable/ Reportable: disease must be reported by the physician to certain designated
authorities.
o Types of tissue necrosis
o Liquefaction Necrosis – dead cells liquify due to certain cell enzymes (ex. brain tissue
dies or cavity/ulcer development in affected area)
Exam 1 Concepts to Review
2026
, NR 283 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Concepts to Review
Cellular Biology/Cellular Adaptation/Cellular Injury Chapter 1
o Cellular Adaptation
o Atrophy – decrease in size of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass (immobilized limb in
a cast)
o Hypertrophy – increase in size of cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass (enlarged
heart muscle)
o Hyperplasia – increase in number of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass (could be
compensatory mechanism or hormonal imbalance, cancer)
o Metaplasia – one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type (could be
compensatory mechanism)
o Dysplasia – tissue in which the cell varies size & shape, large nuclei are frequently
present, and the rate of mitosis is increased (precancerous - cervical cells)
o Anaplasia – cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and
numerous mitotic figures (in most malignant tumors; basis for grading aggressive tumors)
o Neoplasia “new growth”; Neo - new, Plasm - growth
o Benign – less serious, do not spread, non-life threatening unless found in certain
locations (i.e. brain)
o Malignant – undifferentiated & nonfunctional cells that do not appear organized;
rapid production & abnormal mitotic figures; cancer
o Vocabulary Terms at on page 6-8 (Under headings of “Characteristics of Disease” and “Disease
Prognosis.”)
Characteristic of Disease:
o Pathogenesis: refers to the development of the disease or the sequence of the events
involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process
o Acute disease: indicates a short-term illness that develops quickly with marked signs such
as high fever or severe pain
o Chronic disease: milder condition developing gradually, such as rheumatoid arthritis, but
it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue damage. Usually
marked by intermittent acute episodes.
o Subclinical State: exist in some conditions in which pathological changes occur but the
patient exhibits no obvious manifestations, perhaps because of the great reserve capacity
of some organs.
o Latent State: silent stage, in which no clinical signs are evident,
o Incubation Period: which is the time between exposure to the microorganism and the
onset of signs or symptoms.
o Prodromal Period: period compromises the time the early development of a disease when
one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific
o Manifestations: of a disease are the clinical evidence or effects, the signs, and symptoms,
of the disease
, o Local: found at the site of the problem
o Systemic: general indicators of illness
o Signs: objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the affected
individual. Can be local or systemic
o Symptoms: subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea
o Lesion: term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue. Can be microscopic
o Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one organ, that
usually occur together in response to a certain condition
o Diagnostic tests: laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease
o Remission: is a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease subside,
either permanently or temporarily
o Exacerbations: is a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its signs/symptoms
o Precipitating Factor: condition that triggers an acute episode
o Complications: are new secondary or additional problems that arise after the original
disease begins
o Therapy/ therapeutic interventions: treatment measures used to promote recovery or slow
the progress of a disease. Ex: surgery, drugs, physiotherapy, therapies, behavior
modifications
o Sequelae: the potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition, such as paralysis
following recovery from stroke
o Convalescence or rehabilitation: period of recovery and return to the normal healthy
state, may last days or months
Disease Prognosis:
o Prognosis: probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes
o Morbidity: indicates the disease rate within a group
o Mortality: indicate the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease
o Autopsy: examination of all or part of the body by a pathologist
o Epidemiology: science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
o Occurrence: tracked by two factors
o Incidence: the number of new cases in a given population noted within a stated
time frame.
o Prevalence: number of new and old or existing cases within a specific population
and time frame.
o Epidemics: occur when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an infectious
disease within a given area
o Pandemics: higher numbers of cases in many regions of the globe
o Communicable: disease or infections that can be spread from one person to another
o Notifiable/ Reportable: disease must be reported by the physician to certain designated
authorities.
o Types of tissue necrosis
o Liquefaction Necrosis – dead cells liquify due to certain cell enzymes (ex. brain tissue
dies or cavity/ulcer development in affected area)
