NUR 2063 — ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM • PREMIUM ORIGINAL • EXPANDED STUDY & PRACTICE GUIDE
Rasmussen University • Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
Source note: This guide is independently authored from publicly available course/topic information and standard pathophysiology knowledge.
Rasmussen describes NUR 2063 as a systems-based overview emphasizing homeostasis, regulatory/compensatory mechanisms, etiology,
and clinical signs/symptoms. Public study-road-map materials also indicate recurring emphasis on disease cues, etiology, and clinical
reasoning. This is not a reproduction of the Stuvia listing, does not reconstruct locked content, and does not claim to contain actual, leaked,
recalled, or verified exam questions.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 1
, 1. GENERAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & HOMEOSTASIS
Question 1: What is pathophysiology?
A. The study of normal anatomy only
B. The study of altered physiologic processes associated with disease
C. The study of medications only
D. The study of hospital administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology explains how disease disrupts normal structure and function and why signs and symptoms occur.
Exam Pearl: Think: normal function → disruption → clinical manifestations.
Question 2: What is homeostasis?
A. Permanent elimination of disease
B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
C. Complete absence of stress
D. Increased metabolism in every situation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Homeostasis depends on coordinated regulatory and compensatory mechanisms that keep internal conditions within functional
ranges.
Exam Pearl: Homeostasis means stability, not absolute constancy.
Question 3: Which term describes the cause or origin of a disease?
A. Etiology
B. Prognosis
C. Manifestation
D. Sequela
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Etiology identifies the cause or contributing factors of a disorder.
Exam Pearl: Etiology = why it starts.
Question 4: A sign differs from a symptom because a sign is:
A. Always painful
B. Objective and observable/measurable
C. Reported only by the patient
D. Always chronic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A sign is objective evidence such as fever or elevated blood pressure; a symptom is subjectively experienced and reported.
Exam Pearl: Sign = seen/measured; symptom = sensed/reported.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 2
, Question 5: What is compensation?
A. A mechanism that attempts to offset a physiologic disturbance
B. Permanent cure
C. A medication side effect
D. Tissue death
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Compensatory responses attempt to restore functional balance, although prolonged compensation can sometimes create
additional problems.
Exam Pearl: Compensation helps temporarily; it may not fix the cause.
2. CELLULAR INJURY, INFLAMMATION & IMMUNITY
Question 6: Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is enlargement of individual cells, whereas hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
Exam Pearl: Hyper = bigger; hyperplasia = more cells.
Question 7: Which adaptation involves a decrease in cell size?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is reduction in cell size and can occur with disuse, reduced nutrition, loss of nerve supply or diminished hormonal
stimulation.
Exam Pearl: Atrophy = shrink.
Question 8: What is apoptosis?
A. Programmed, regulated cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell swelling only
C. Bacterial replication
D. Tissue regeneration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled cell death used in normal development and removal of damaged or unnecessary cells.
Exam Pearl: Apoptosis is orderly; necrosis is generally uncontrolled injury-related death.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 3
FINAL EXAM • PREMIUM ORIGINAL • EXPANDED STUDY & PRACTICE GUIDE
Rasmussen University • Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
Source note: This guide is independently authored from publicly available course/topic information and standard pathophysiology knowledge.
Rasmussen describes NUR 2063 as a systems-based overview emphasizing homeostasis, regulatory/compensatory mechanisms, etiology,
and clinical signs/symptoms. Public study-road-map materials also indicate recurring emphasis on disease cues, etiology, and clinical
reasoning. This is not a reproduction of the Stuvia listing, does not reconstruct locked content, and does not claim to contain actual, leaked,
recalled, or verified exam questions.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 1
, 1. GENERAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & HOMEOSTASIS
Question 1: What is pathophysiology?
A. The study of normal anatomy only
B. The study of altered physiologic processes associated with disease
C. The study of medications only
D. The study of hospital administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology explains how disease disrupts normal structure and function and why signs and symptoms occur.
Exam Pearl: Think: normal function → disruption → clinical manifestations.
Question 2: What is homeostasis?
A. Permanent elimination of disease
B. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
C. Complete absence of stress
D. Increased metabolism in every situation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Homeostasis depends on coordinated regulatory and compensatory mechanisms that keep internal conditions within functional
ranges.
Exam Pearl: Homeostasis means stability, not absolute constancy.
Question 3: Which term describes the cause or origin of a disease?
A. Etiology
B. Prognosis
C. Manifestation
D. Sequela
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Etiology identifies the cause or contributing factors of a disorder.
Exam Pearl: Etiology = why it starts.
Question 4: A sign differs from a symptom because a sign is:
A. Always painful
B. Objective and observable/measurable
C. Reported only by the patient
D. Always chronic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A sign is objective evidence such as fever or elevated blood pressure; a symptom is subjectively experienced and reported.
Exam Pearl: Sign = seen/measured; symptom = sensed/reported.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 2
, Question 5: What is compensation?
A. A mechanism that attempts to offset a physiologic disturbance
B. Permanent cure
C. A medication side effect
D. Tissue death
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Compensatory responses attempt to restore functional balance, although prolonged compensation can sometimes create
additional problems.
Exam Pearl: Compensation helps temporarily; it may not fix the cause.
2. CELLULAR INJURY, INFLAMMATION & IMMUNITY
Question 6: Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is enlargement of individual cells, whereas hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
Exam Pearl: Hyper = bigger; hyperplasia = more cells.
Question 7: Which adaptation involves a decrease in cell size?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is reduction in cell size and can occur with disuse, reduced nutrition, loss of nerve supply or diminished hormonal
stimulation.
Exam Pearl: Atrophy = shrink.
Question 8: What is apoptosis?
A. Programmed, regulated cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell swelling only
C. Bacterial replication
D. Tissue regeneration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled cell death used in normal development and removal of damaged or unnecessary cells.
Exam Pearl: Apoptosis is orderly; necrosis is generally uncontrolled injury-related death.
NUR 2063 — Independent Pathophysiology Study Resource Page 3
