PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DISEASE: AN
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)GARY D. HAMMER; STEPHEN J.
MCPHEE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 68-year-old man presents with fatigue and unexplained
weight loss. You suspect a chronic disease process that has
progressed from subclinical dysfunction to clinical disease.
Which concept best explains the interval between initial
pathologic insult and overt clinical signs?
Options
A. Homeostasis
B. Latent period
,C. Compensatory reserve
D. Prodromal phase
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
• Correct (B): The latent period describes the interval after
an initiating pathologic event during which disease
processes evolve but clinical signs may not yet be
apparent; it explains delayed symptom onset.
• A: Homeostasis refers to physiologic steady-state
maintenance, not the silent interval before clinical disease.
• C: Compensatory reserve describes adaptive mechanisms
that maintain function; it contributes to latency but is not
the interval itself.
• D: The prodromal phase is the early symptomatic period
just before full clinical expression, not the often longer
latent interval.
Teaching Point
Latent period = time between initiating pathology and
observable clinical disease.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A nurse notes that two patients exposed to the same toxin
develop different illness severities. Which principle best
accounts for this variability in clinical response?
Options
A. Dose-response relationship only
B. Individual susceptibility and host factors
C. Universal pathogenicity of toxins
D. Identical genetic background
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
• Correct (B): Individual susceptibility (age, genetics,
comorbidities, immune status) modifies response to a
toxin and explains differing severities despite similar
exposures.
• A: Dose-response is important but does not fully explain
different outcomes at similar exposures.
• C: No toxin has identical effects in all hosts; pathogenicity
varies by host factors.
, • D: Patients rarely have identical genetics; assuming so
ignores key modifiers of disease.
Teaching Point
Host susceptibility (genetics, age, comorbidity) modifies disease
expression after exposure.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
You’re educating a newly hired nurse about sensitivity and
specificity of diagnostic tests. A test with high specificity is most
useful to:
Options
A. Screen a low-risk population for disease
B. Rule in disease when positive
C. Identify all true positive cases
D. Reduce false negatives
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)GARY D. HAMMER; STEPHEN J.
MCPHEE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 68-year-old man presents with fatigue and unexplained
weight loss. You suspect a chronic disease process that has
progressed from subclinical dysfunction to clinical disease.
Which concept best explains the interval between initial
pathologic insult and overt clinical signs?
Options
A. Homeostasis
B. Latent period
,C. Compensatory reserve
D. Prodromal phase
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
• Correct (B): The latent period describes the interval after
an initiating pathologic event during which disease
processes evolve but clinical signs may not yet be
apparent; it explains delayed symptom onset.
• A: Homeostasis refers to physiologic steady-state
maintenance, not the silent interval before clinical disease.
• C: Compensatory reserve describes adaptive mechanisms
that maintain function; it contributes to latency but is not
the interval itself.
• D: The prodromal phase is the early symptomatic period
just before full clinical expression, not the often longer
latent interval.
Teaching Point
Latent period = time between initiating pathology and
observable clinical disease.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A nurse notes that two patients exposed to the same toxin
develop different illness severities. Which principle best
accounts for this variability in clinical response?
Options
A. Dose-response relationship only
B. Individual susceptibility and host factors
C. Universal pathogenicity of toxins
D. Identical genetic background
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
• Correct (B): Individual susceptibility (age, genetics,
comorbidities, immune status) modifies response to a
toxin and explains differing severities despite similar
exposures.
• A: Dose-response is important but does not fully explain
different outcomes at similar exposures.
• C: No toxin has identical effects in all hosts; pathogenicity
varies by host factors.
, • D: Patients rarely have identical genetics; assuming so
ignores key modifiers of disease.
Teaching Point
Host susceptibility (genetics, age, comorbidity) modifies disease
expression after exposure.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
You’re educating a newly hired nurse about sensitivity and
specificity of diagnostic tests. A test with high specificity is most
useful to:
Options
A. Screen a low-risk population for disease
B. Rule in disease when positive
C. Identify all true positive cases
D. Reduce false negatives
Correct Answer
B
Rationale
