BIOD 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - MODULE 1 EXAM
05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
BIOD 331 Pathophysiology - Module 1 exam questions
and correct answers Latest version 2026
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"?
Pathophysiology is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but also
the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Etiologic factors are the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't necessarily develop the
disease but are predispositioned to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism. Nutritional excess
in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the study
5/12/2026
of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
1
, BIOD 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - MODULE 1 EXAM
05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
These both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an objective manifestation while symptoms
are a subjective complaint. Signs are apparent to the physician, symptoms are apparent to the
patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis?
Patient history, diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Validity: how a tool measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool to do the job, such as
using a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on someone's
experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks.
Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a community by tracking age,
race, nutritional habits and locations.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence is the number of new cases in the population at a given time, prevalence is the number of
cases that exist in the population at a given time.
5/12/2026
2
, BIOD 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - MODULE 1 EXAM
05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define mortality and morbidity.
Mortality is the reason for death in a population. Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's
life, as it pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each.
Primary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease from occurring, for example eating
healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either still curable or
asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions happen to cause further
complications. For example, using medication to reduce the risk of future heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important?
Evidence-based practice is important because medical professions follow up-to-date information and
studies in order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are followed, preventing
physicians from using outdates practices that no longer benefit the patient.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell?
The nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane
What is the function of the nucleus?
The nucleus is the control center for the cell and contains most of the hereditary material, DNA and
RNA.
5/12/2026
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05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
BIOD 331 Pathophysiology - Module 1 exam questions
and correct answers Latest version 2026
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"?
Pathophysiology is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but also
the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Etiologic factors are the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't necessarily develop the
disease but are predispositioned to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism. Nutritional excess
in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the study
5/12/2026
of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
1
, BIOD 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - MODULE 1 EXAM
05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
These both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an objective manifestation while symptoms
are a subjective complaint. Signs are apparent to the physician, symptoms are apparent to the
patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis?
Patient history, diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Validity: how a tool measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool to do the job, such as
using a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on someone's
experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks.
Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a community by tracking age,
race, nutritional habits and locations.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence is the number of new cases in the population at a given time, prevalence is the number of
cases that exist in the population at a given time.
5/12/2026
2
, BIOD 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - MODULE 1 EXAM
05/12/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define mortality and morbidity.
Mortality is the reason for death in a population. Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's
life, as it pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each.
Primary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease from occurring, for example eating
healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either still curable or
asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions happen to cause further
complications. For example, using medication to reduce the risk of future heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important?
Evidence-based practice is important because medical professions follow up-to-date information and
studies in order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are followed, preventing
physicians from using outdates practices that no longer benefit the patient.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell?
The nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane
What is the function of the nucleus?
The nucleus is the control center for the cell and contains most of the hereditary material, DNA and
RNA.
5/12/2026
3
