PORTH'S ESSENTIALS OF
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)TOMMIE L. NORRIS
TEST BANK
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease — Health as
a continuum
A 54-year-old client has controlled hypertension, exercises
three times weekly, and reports no symptoms. At a follow-up
visit, the client says, “I am either healthy or sick—there is no
middle ground.” Which response by the nurse best reflects the
chapter concept of health?
A. “Health is defined only by the absence of disease.”
,B. “Health is a dynamic state that includes adaptation and
function.”
C. “Health is the same as having normal laboratory values.”
D. “Health depends entirely on age and genetics.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health in pathophysiology is best understood as
a dynamic state that involves the ability to adapt, maintain
function, and respond to stressors rather than simply the
absence of disease. This client may have a chronic condition,
yet still demonstrate effective adaptation and functional
wellness. A is too narrow because disease can exist without
eliminating health; C is incorrect because labs do not
capture overall adaptation; D overstates fixed factors and
ignores behavior and environment.
Teaching Point: Health reflects function and adaptation, not just
the absence of illness.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Concepts of Health and
Disease.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease — Illness
versus disease
A client with early chronic kidney disease reports feeling
“perfectly fine” and continues normal activities. The nurse
,explains that symptoms are not always present when pathologic
changes already exist. Which concept is being described?
A. Disease can exist before illness is recognized
B. Illness is always accompanied by abnormal imaging findings
C. Disease only begins when symptoms become severe
D. Illness and disease are identical terms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disease refers to objective pathophysiologic
change, while illness is the subjective experience of not feeling
well. A person can have disease before symptoms are
noticeable, especially in early or compensatory stages. B is
incorrect because imaging is not required for illness; C
ignores subclinical disease; D is incorrect because the terms
are related but not interchangeable.
Teaching Point: Disease can be silent long before symptoms
appear.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Concepts of Health and
Disease.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease —
Incidence
A public health nurse tracks 48 newly diagnosed influenza cases
in a school district during October. The nurse wants the
, measure that reflects the number of new cases occurring during
that period. Which measure should be used?
A. Prevalence
B. Incidence
C. Mortality rate
D. Case fatality rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases that develop
during a specified time period, making it the best choice for
identifying how rapidly disease is occurring. This is useful for
understanding disease occurrence and risk in a population.
A includes existing cases, not just new ones; C measures
deaths; D measures deaths among people who already have
the disease.
Teaching Point: Incidence counts new cases over time.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Health and Disease in
Populations.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease —
Prevalence
During a community screening, a nurse finds that many adults
already have type 2 diabetes but only a few new cases are
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)TOMMIE L. NORRIS
TEST BANK
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease — Health as
a continuum
A 54-year-old client has controlled hypertension, exercises
three times weekly, and reports no symptoms. At a follow-up
visit, the client says, “I am either healthy or sick—there is no
middle ground.” Which response by the nurse best reflects the
chapter concept of health?
A. “Health is defined only by the absence of disease.”
,B. “Health is a dynamic state that includes adaptation and
function.”
C. “Health is the same as having normal laboratory values.”
D. “Health depends entirely on age and genetics.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health in pathophysiology is best understood as
a dynamic state that involves the ability to adapt, maintain
function, and respond to stressors rather than simply the
absence of disease. This client may have a chronic condition,
yet still demonstrate effective adaptation and functional
wellness. A is too narrow because disease can exist without
eliminating health; C is incorrect because labs do not
capture overall adaptation; D overstates fixed factors and
ignores behavior and environment.
Teaching Point: Health reflects function and adaptation, not just
the absence of illness.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Concepts of Health and
Disease.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease — Illness
versus disease
A client with early chronic kidney disease reports feeling
“perfectly fine” and continues normal activities. The nurse
,explains that symptoms are not always present when pathologic
changes already exist. Which concept is being described?
A. Disease can exist before illness is recognized
B. Illness is always accompanied by abnormal imaging findings
C. Disease only begins when symptoms become severe
D. Illness and disease are identical terms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disease refers to objective pathophysiologic
change, while illness is the subjective experience of not feeling
well. A person can have disease before symptoms are
noticeable, especially in early or compensatory stages. B is
incorrect because imaging is not required for illness; C
ignores subclinical disease; D is incorrect because the terms
are related but not interchangeable.
Teaching Point: Disease can be silent long before symptoms
appear.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Concepts of Health and
Disease.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease —
Incidence
A public health nurse tracks 48 newly diagnosed influenza cases
in a school district during October. The nurse wants the
, measure that reflects the number of new cases occurring during
that period. Which measure should be used?
A. Prevalence
B. Incidence
C. Mortality rate
D. Case fatality rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases that develop
during a specified time period, making it the best choice for
identifying how rapidly disease is occurring. This is useful for
understanding disease occurrence and risk in a population.
A includes existing cases, not just new ones; C measures
deaths; D measures deaths among people who already have
the disease.
Teaching Point: Incidence counts new cases over time.
Citation (Simplified APA): Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials
of Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Ch. 1: Health and Disease in
Populations.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Concepts of Health and Disease —
Prevalence
During a community screening, a nurse finds that many adults
already have type 2 diabetes but only a few new cases are
