NUR 283 Pathophysiology Exam Review Guide 2026|
Comprehensive Study Material with Verified Answers
Test 1: Content Review for Exam 1:
1. Definitions of terms for chapters we covered
• Flash Cards
2. Chronic inflammation (laboratory results that correlate- in PP & book) (Ch. 5, pg. 72)
• Leukocytosis- increased #s of white blood cells, especially neutrophils
• Differential count- proportion of each type of white blood cell altered, depending on
the cause
• Plasma proteins- increased fibrinogen and prothrombin
• C-reactive protein- a protein not normally in the blood, but appears with acute
inflammation and necrosis within 24-48 hours
• Increased ESR- elevated plasma proteins increase the rate at which red blood cells settle in a
sample
• Cell enzymes- released from necrotic cells and enter tissue fluids and blood: may
indicate the site of inflammation
3. Cellular Adaptations (Ch. 1, pg. 8)
• Atrophy: DECREASE in the SIZE of cells, resulting in a REDUCED tissue mass.
• Hypertrophy: INCREASE in the SIZE of individual cells, resulting in ENLARGED tissue mass.
• Hyperplasia: INCREASED NUMBER of cells resulting in an ENLARGED tissue mass.
• Metaplasia: occurs when one mature cells type is replaced by a different mature cell type.
• Dysplasia: tissue in which the cells vary in size and shape, large nuclei are
frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased.
• Anaplasia: cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and
numerous mitotic figures
• Neoplasia: “new growth” and a neoplasm is commonly called a tumor.
4. Genetics: single gene disease types and how they would be represented on a Punnett Square
if they were affected vs carrier (PP- Part 2)
• Classified by inheritance patterns
i. Recessive: DO NOT produce abnormal traits unless both parents have the
gene and pass them to their offspring
ii. Dominant: produce abnormal traits, even if only one parent has the gene
iii. X-linked recessive: sex linked inheritance
• Single gene controls a specific function
i. Example: color blindness
• May have specific effects
i. Examples: cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, phenylketonuria (PKU) *these
are single gene recessive.
,5. Chromosomal abnormalities
• Trisomy 21: Down Syndrome
i. Common chromosomal disorder
1. Affects physical and mental development
, • Risk increase with maternal ager (age 30 risk= 1 in 100, age 35 risk= 1 in 500, age 40
risk= 1 in 100)
• Triple or quad screening test and/or 1st-trimester screening test (ultrasound + maternal
blood screening)
i. May be used to screen for risk of Down Syndrome
ii. Amniocentesis chorionic villi sampling used to confirm the disorder prior to birth
6. Infectious Process (book)
•
7. Types of acquired immunity
8. Immunosuppression, HIV/AIDS
9. Infection: Types of microorganisms- (bacteria and virus) see- PP
10. Understanding health and disease (ch 1)
11. Cellular damage and necrosis
12. Characteristics of disease
13. Lines of defense from disease
14. Fluid excess and fluid deficit
15. Electrolyte imbalances and their effects
16. Local vs systemic signs and symptoms
17. Types of exudate/drainage
18. Transmission of infection
19. Effects of inflammation (local and systemic)
20. ABG’s (what patients are likely to get each type, how to identify condition based on ABG results)
21. Burns: classification and rule of 9’s (online PP ch 5 and book)
22. Cellular aging, free radicals, and theories
23. Effects of various IV solutions on the cell (hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic)
24. Foods high in certain electrolytes (Ca and K)
25. Warning s/s of cancer
26. Treatment of inflammation and injury
27. Cancer treatment and what they target
28. Input and output of fluids
29. Cancer: spread of malignant tumors
30. Benign vs malignant tumor characteristics and tendencies
31. Cancer: incidence/ leading causes of death
32. Warning s/s of cancer
33. Cancer staging
34. Cancer prognosis
35. Cancer nomenclature
, Test 2: Review and Topics of Focus
Skin:
Malignant skin lesions (Melanoma, box 8-1, warning signs of skin cancer p 154)
• Melanoma (pg. 155)
o Highly metastatic form of skin cancer
o Develops in melanocytes
▪ From a nevus (mole)
o Often appear as multicolored lesion w/irregular border
▪ Grow quickly
▪ Changes in shape, color, size, texture
▪ May bleed
o Treatment: surgical removal & radiation plus chemotherapy
o ABCD of Melanoma
▪ Change in appearance
▪ Change in border
▪ Change in color
▪ Increase in diameter
• Skin Lesions (pg.143-144)
o Macule: flat circumscribed
o Nodule: firm, raised, deep
o Papule: small, solid elevation
o Pustule: raise, often w/a “head” filled w/exudate(pus)
o Vesicle(blister): thin wall, raised, fluid filled
o Plaque: slightly elevated, flat, “scale”-like lesion
o Ulcer: cavity in tissue
o Fissure: crack in tissue
o Crust: dry, rough surface or dried exudate or blood
o Lichenification: thick, dry, rough surface (leather like)
o Keloid: raised, irregular & increasing mass of collagen resulting from excessive scar
tissue formation
o Erosion: shallow, moist cavity in epidermis
o Comedon: mass of sebum, keratin & debris blocking the opening of a hair follicle
• Warning signs of Skin Cancer (pg.154)
o A sore that does not heal
o A change in shape, size, color, or texture of a lesion, especially an expanding,
irregular circumference or surface
o New moles or odd-shaped lesions that develop
o A skin lesion that bleeds repeatedly, oozes fluid, or itches
• Kaposi’s sarcoma (pg.155-156)
Comprehensive Study Material with Verified Answers
Test 1: Content Review for Exam 1:
1. Definitions of terms for chapters we covered
• Flash Cards
2. Chronic inflammation (laboratory results that correlate- in PP & book) (Ch. 5, pg. 72)
• Leukocytosis- increased #s of white blood cells, especially neutrophils
• Differential count- proportion of each type of white blood cell altered, depending on
the cause
• Plasma proteins- increased fibrinogen and prothrombin
• C-reactive protein- a protein not normally in the blood, but appears with acute
inflammation and necrosis within 24-48 hours
• Increased ESR- elevated plasma proteins increase the rate at which red blood cells settle in a
sample
• Cell enzymes- released from necrotic cells and enter tissue fluids and blood: may
indicate the site of inflammation
3. Cellular Adaptations (Ch. 1, pg. 8)
• Atrophy: DECREASE in the SIZE of cells, resulting in a REDUCED tissue mass.
• Hypertrophy: INCREASE in the SIZE of individual cells, resulting in ENLARGED tissue mass.
• Hyperplasia: INCREASED NUMBER of cells resulting in an ENLARGED tissue mass.
• Metaplasia: occurs when one mature cells type is replaced by a different mature cell type.
• Dysplasia: tissue in which the cells vary in size and shape, large nuclei are
frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased.
• Anaplasia: cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and
numerous mitotic figures
• Neoplasia: “new growth” and a neoplasm is commonly called a tumor.
4. Genetics: single gene disease types and how they would be represented on a Punnett Square
if they were affected vs carrier (PP- Part 2)
• Classified by inheritance patterns
i. Recessive: DO NOT produce abnormal traits unless both parents have the
gene and pass them to their offspring
ii. Dominant: produce abnormal traits, even if only one parent has the gene
iii. X-linked recessive: sex linked inheritance
• Single gene controls a specific function
i. Example: color blindness
• May have specific effects
i. Examples: cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, phenylketonuria (PKU) *these
are single gene recessive.
,5. Chromosomal abnormalities
• Trisomy 21: Down Syndrome
i. Common chromosomal disorder
1. Affects physical and mental development
, • Risk increase with maternal ager (age 30 risk= 1 in 100, age 35 risk= 1 in 500, age 40
risk= 1 in 100)
• Triple or quad screening test and/or 1st-trimester screening test (ultrasound + maternal
blood screening)
i. May be used to screen for risk of Down Syndrome
ii. Amniocentesis chorionic villi sampling used to confirm the disorder prior to birth
6. Infectious Process (book)
•
7. Types of acquired immunity
8. Immunosuppression, HIV/AIDS
9. Infection: Types of microorganisms- (bacteria and virus) see- PP
10. Understanding health and disease (ch 1)
11. Cellular damage and necrosis
12. Characteristics of disease
13. Lines of defense from disease
14. Fluid excess and fluid deficit
15. Electrolyte imbalances and their effects
16. Local vs systemic signs and symptoms
17. Types of exudate/drainage
18. Transmission of infection
19. Effects of inflammation (local and systemic)
20. ABG’s (what patients are likely to get each type, how to identify condition based on ABG results)
21. Burns: classification and rule of 9’s (online PP ch 5 and book)
22. Cellular aging, free radicals, and theories
23. Effects of various IV solutions on the cell (hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic)
24. Foods high in certain electrolytes (Ca and K)
25. Warning s/s of cancer
26. Treatment of inflammation and injury
27. Cancer treatment and what they target
28. Input and output of fluids
29. Cancer: spread of malignant tumors
30. Benign vs malignant tumor characteristics and tendencies
31. Cancer: incidence/ leading causes of death
32. Warning s/s of cancer
33. Cancer staging
34. Cancer prognosis
35. Cancer nomenclature
, Test 2: Review and Topics of Focus
Skin:
Malignant skin lesions (Melanoma, box 8-1, warning signs of skin cancer p 154)
• Melanoma (pg. 155)
o Highly metastatic form of skin cancer
o Develops in melanocytes
▪ From a nevus (mole)
o Often appear as multicolored lesion w/irregular border
▪ Grow quickly
▪ Changes in shape, color, size, texture
▪ May bleed
o Treatment: surgical removal & radiation plus chemotherapy
o ABCD of Melanoma
▪ Change in appearance
▪ Change in border
▪ Change in color
▪ Increase in diameter
• Skin Lesions (pg.143-144)
o Macule: flat circumscribed
o Nodule: firm, raised, deep
o Papule: small, solid elevation
o Pustule: raise, often w/a “head” filled w/exudate(pus)
o Vesicle(blister): thin wall, raised, fluid filled
o Plaque: slightly elevated, flat, “scale”-like lesion
o Ulcer: cavity in tissue
o Fissure: crack in tissue
o Crust: dry, rough surface or dried exudate or blood
o Lichenification: thick, dry, rough surface (leather like)
o Keloid: raised, irregular & increasing mass of collagen resulting from excessive scar
tissue formation
o Erosion: shallow, moist cavity in epidermis
o Comedon: mass of sebum, keratin & debris blocking the opening of a hair follicle
• Warning signs of Skin Cancer (pg.154)
o A sore that does not heal
o A change in shape, size, color, or texture of a lesion, especially an expanding,
irregular circumference or surface
o New moles or odd-shaped lesions that develop
o A skin lesion that bleeds repeatedly, oozes fluid, or itches
• Kaposi’s sarcoma (pg.155-156)
