Advanced Physiology &
Pathophysiology Exam –
Comprehensive Practice Questions
and Exam Preparation Guide
What is pathophysiology? not only cellular and organ changes that occur with
disease, but with the effects that these changes have
on total body function
Atrophy decrease in size of tissue organs resulting from
a decrease in cell size or in number of cells
causes include disuse, loss of trophic stimuli (i.e. loss of
innervation), insufficient nutrients, decreased blood flow,
persistent cell injury, and aging
cells decrease cellular machinery, decrease
oxygen/glucose needs, decrease number of
organelles
,Hypertrophy increase in cell size, and thus an increase in amount of
functioning tissue mass
results from an increased workload imposed on an
organ or body part
involves an increase in the functional components of
the cell that allows it to achieve equilibrium b/w
demand and functional capacity
Hyperplasia increase in number of cells in an organ or tissue
∙can only occur in tissues that are capable of mitotic
division
controlled process that occurs in response to an
appropriate stimulus and ceases after stimulus has
been removed
more dangerous than hypertrophy → b/c of increased
division, increased risk of cancer
example: prostate, uterus/breast tissue in
pregnancy/puberty
Metaplasia reversible change in which one adult cell type is
replaced by another adult cell type
∙only kind of cell of that is replaced is present, i.e.
epithelial cells are replaced by a different type of
epithelial cell
thought to involve the reprogramming of undifferentiated
stem cells that are present in tissue
usually occurs in response to chronic irritation and
inflammation which allows for substitution of cells that
are better able to survive
seen in Barrett's esophagus
,Dysplasia characterized by deranged cell growth of a specific
tissue that results in cells that vary in size, shape and
appearance
∙thought of as replacement of mature cell by immature
cells, that can differentiate into different cell types
involves sequential mutations in proliferating cell
populations
pattern is most frequently encountered in metaplastic
squamous epithelium of respiratory tract and uterine
cervix
strongly implicated as a precursor to cancer
Levels of Cellular Injury stress causes cell to adapt, but at some point it will
eventually cause injury
injuries can lead to cell death, but at some point along
cellular pathway, the injury can be reversible
at some point, the injury becomes irreversible, and the
cell will die, either by apoptosis or necrosis
Stresses: mechanical forces (usually superficial
injuries), electrical injuries, (electricity can carry heat
that damages, electrical impulses can change
electrical balance w/in body), nutritional imbalances,
biological agents (viruses/bacteria), poisons
Hypoxia hypoxia = lack of oxygen
∙ischemia = lack of blood flow
∙ischemia can cause hypoxia
without oxygen, 2 things happen in cell
∙inability to make ATP affects polarization of membrane
∙not having O2 changes us from aerobic metabolism to
anaerobic metabolism
, Extremes of Temperature Heat
∙accelerates cell metabolism
∙inactivates temperature sensitive enzymes (can alter
metabolism)
∙disrupts the cell membrane
∙coagulation of blood vessels
∙coagulation of tissue proteins
Cold
∙increases blood viscosity
∙induces vasoconstriction (SNS)
∙ice crystal formation
∙capillary stasis
∙arteriolar and capillary thrombosis
Chemical Agents similar to poisons that can cause cellular damage
lead causes problems in body b/c unlike a lot of other
substances, there is no threshold of lead that is safe
for the body
∙very high levels of lead can cause mental
retardation, coma, convulsion and death
∙low levels of lead can cause reduced IQ and attention
span, impaired growth, reading and learning
disabilities, hearing loss and a range of other
health/behavioral effects
Lead no threshold of lead that is safe for the body
able to cross blood-brain barrier
∙confuses calcium transporters and takes the place of
calcium
∙unique to lead
∙once it gets into CNS, we don't have a way to get it out
causes an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species),
and a decrease in antioxidant system
can affect kidney → glomerular fibrosis and proximal
tubule mitochondrial damage
Pathophysiology Exam –
Comprehensive Practice Questions
and Exam Preparation Guide
What is pathophysiology? not only cellular and organ changes that occur with
disease, but with the effects that these changes have
on total body function
Atrophy decrease in size of tissue organs resulting from
a decrease in cell size or in number of cells
causes include disuse, loss of trophic stimuli (i.e. loss of
innervation), insufficient nutrients, decreased blood flow,
persistent cell injury, and aging
cells decrease cellular machinery, decrease
oxygen/glucose needs, decrease number of
organelles
,Hypertrophy increase in cell size, and thus an increase in amount of
functioning tissue mass
results from an increased workload imposed on an
organ or body part
involves an increase in the functional components of
the cell that allows it to achieve equilibrium b/w
demand and functional capacity
Hyperplasia increase in number of cells in an organ or tissue
∙can only occur in tissues that are capable of mitotic
division
controlled process that occurs in response to an
appropriate stimulus and ceases after stimulus has
been removed
more dangerous than hypertrophy → b/c of increased
division, increased risk of cancer
example: prostate, uterus/breast tissue in
pregnancy/puberty
Metaplasia reversible change in which one adult cell type is
replaced by another adult cell type
∙only kind of cell of that is replaced is present, i.e.
epithelial cells are replaced by a different type of
epithelial cell
thought to involve the reprogramming of undifferentiated
stem cells that are present in tissue
usually occurs in response to chronic irritation and
inflammation which allows for substitution of cells that
are better able to survive
seen in Barrett's esophagus
,Dysplasia characterized by deranged cell growth of a specific
tissue that results in cells that vary in size, shape and
appearance
∙thought of as replacement of mature cell by immature
cells, that can differentiate into different cell types
involves sequential mutations in proliferating cell
populations
pattern is most frequently encountered in metaplastic
squamous epithelium of respiratory tract and uterine
cervix
strongly implicated as a precursor to cancer
Levels of Cellular Injury stress causes cell to adapt, but at some point it will
eventually cause injury
injuries can lead to cell death, but at some point along
cellular pathway, the injury can be reversible
at some point, the injury becomes irreversible, and the
cell will die, either by apoptosis or necrosis
Stresses: mechanical forces (usually superficial
injuries), electrical injuries, (electricity can carry heat
that damages, electrical impulses can change
electrical balance w/in body), nutritional imbalances,
biological agents (viruses/bacteria), poisons
Hypoxia hypoxia = lack of oxygen
∙ischemia = lack of blood flow
∙ischemia can cause hypoxia
without oxygen, 2 things happen in cell
∙inability to make ATP affects polarization of membrane
∙not having O2 changes us from aerobic metabolism to
anaerobic metabolism
, Extremes of Temperature Heat
∙accelerates cell metabolism
∙inactivates temperature sensitive enzymes (can alter
metabolism)
∙disrupts the cell membrane
∙coagulation of blood vessels
∙coagulation of tissue proteins
Cold
∙increases blood viscosity
∙induces vasoconstriction (SNS)
∙ice crystal formation
∙capillary stasis
∙arteriolar and capillary thrombosis
Chemical Agents similar to poisons that can cause cellular damage
lead causes problems in body b/c unlike a lot of other
substances, there is no threshold of lead that is safe
for the body
∙very high levels of lead can cause mental
retardation, coma, convulsion and death
∙low levels of lead can cause reduced IQ and attention
span, impaired growth, reading and learning
disabilities, hearing loss and a range of other
health/behavioral effects
Lead no threshold of lead that is safe for the body
able to cross blood-brain barrier
∙confuses calcium transporters and takes the place of
calcium
∙unique to lead
∙once it gets into CNS, we don't have a way to get it out
causes an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species),
and a decrease in antioxidant system
can affect kidney → glomerular fibrosis and proximal
tubule mitochondrial damage
