NURS 231 Pathophysiology Module 1 Study
Guide: Questions & Answers
🔬 What Is Pathophysiology?
• Definition: Pathophysiology is the study of how the body changes and responds when
there’s altered function or disease.
• Word breakdown:
o Pathology 🧪 (pathos = “disease” in Greek): Study of structural & functional
changes in cells, tissues, and organs caused by disease.
o Physiology 💓: Study of normal body function.
• Combined meaning: How disease changes body structure and function at cellular and
organ levels, and how these changes affect overall body function.
💡 Memory cue: Think Patho = problem + Physiology = function →
“Problems with function.”
🌍 Defining Health
• WHO definition 🌐:
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.” o Criticism: May be too idealistic and not updated in
years. Healthy People 2020 (U.S.) goals 🇺🇸:
o Live free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
o Achieve health equity & eliminate disparities.
o Promote good health for all.
o Encourage healthy behaviors throughout life.
❗ What Is Disease?
• Definition: Illness causing abnormal physiological function in an organ, structure, or
body system.
, • Can be:
o Congenital 👶 (present at birth) o Acquired 🧍 (develops after birth)
🩺 The Disease Process
Key steps in how diseases develop & progress:
Step Meaning Example
Etiology 🧾 Cause of disease Influenza virus → flu
Pathogenesis 🔄 How disease develops at Virus enters cells → replication →
cell/tissue level symptoms
Morphologic Changes Tumor visible on MRI
Structural changes (gross or
🔬 microscopic)
Clinical Signs & symptoms Cough, fever
Manifestations
👀
Diagnosis 🩻 Identifying the disease
Confirming pneumonia via X-ray
Acute vs. chronic
Clinical Course 🕒 How disease unfolds over time
🧠 Etiology (Causes of Disease)
Known causes include:
o Physical forces 💥 (trauma, burns, radiation) o Chemical agents ☠️ (poisons,
alcohol) o Biological agents 🦠 (bacteria, viruses) o Genetic factors 🧬
(inherited mutations) o Nutritional issues 🥦 (deficiency/excess)
Idiopathic: Unknown cause.
• Multifactorial causes are common (e.g., heart disease, diabetes).
, ⚠️ Risk Factors
Conditions or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing disease.
• Congenital (present at birth): genetic, environmental, or both.
• Acquired (after birth): lifestyle, injuries, exposures.
• Most diseases = genetic + environment interaction.
💡 Test tip: Risk factors ≠ cause, but they raise the probability.
🔄 Pathogenesis
• Definition: Sequence of events from first exposure to an agent → final disease signs.
• Happens at the cell & tissue level.
🔬 Morphology
• Meaning: Structure of cells/tissues (can be normal or abnormal).
• Morphologic changes: Alterations seen in disease.
• Histology: Microscopic study of tissues.
• Lesion: Abnormal area of tissue (due to injury/disease).
• Tools: Radiographs, ultrasounds, biopsies.
👁️ Clinical Manifestations
How a disease presents itself
Term Definition Examples Memory
Cue
🔴 Sign 🩺 Objective – Fever, rash, edema, “Something seen/measured by
provider abnormal reflexes I can see”
🔴 Subjective – Pain, dizziness, “Something
Guide: Questions & Answers
🔬 What Is Pathophysiology?
• Definition: Pathophysiology is the study of how the body changes and responds when
there’s altered function or disease.
• Word breakdown:
o Pathology 🧪 (pathos = “disease” in Greek): Study of structural & functional
changes in cells, tissues, and organs caused by disease.
o Physiology 💓: Study of normal body function.
• Combined meaning: How disease changes body structure and function at cellular and
organ levels, and how these changes affect overall body function.
💡 Memory cue: Think Patho = problem + Physiology = function →
“Problems with function.”
🌍 Defining Health
• WHO definition 🌐:
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.” o Criticism: May be too idealistic and not updated in
years. Healthy People 2020 (U.S.) goals 🇺🇸:
o Live free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
o Achieve health equity & eliminate disparities.
o Promote good health for all.
o Encourage healthy behaviors throughout life.
❗ What Is Disease?
• Definition: Illness causing abnormal physiological function in an organ, structure, or
body system.
, • Can be:
o Congenital 👶 (present at birth) o Acquired 🧍 (develops after birth)
🩺 The Disease Process
Key steps in how diseases develop & progress:
Step Meaning Example
Etiology 🧾 Cause of disease Influenza virus → flu
Pathogenesis 🔄 How disease develops at Virus enters cells → replication →
cell/tissue level symptoms
Morphologic Changes Tumor visible on MRI
Structural changes (gross or
🔬 microscopic)
Clinical Signs & symptoms Cough, fever
Manifestations
👀
Diagnosis 🩻 Identifying the disease
Confirming pneumonia via X-ray
Acute vs. chronic
Clinical Course 🕒 How disease unfolds over time
🧠 Etiology (Causes of Disease)
Known causes include:
o Physical forces 💥 (trauma, burns, radiation) o Chemical agents ☠️ (poisons,
alcohol) o Biological agents 🦠 (bacteria, viruses) o Genetic factors 🧬
(inherited mutations) o Nutritional issues 🥦 (deficiency/excess)
Idiopathic: Unknown cause.
• Multifactorial causes are common (e.g., heart disease, diabetes).
, ⚠️ Risk Factors
Conditions or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing disease.
• Congenital (present at birth): genetic, environmental, or both.
• Acquired (after birth): lifestyle, injuries, exposures.
• Most diseases = genetic + environment interaction.
💡 Test tip: Risk factors ≠ cause, but they raise the probability.
🔄 Pathogenesis
• Definition: Sequence of events from first exposure to an agent → final disease signs.
• Happens at the cell & tissue level.
🔬 Morphology
• Meaning: Structure of cells/tissues (can be normal or abnormal).
• Morphologic changes: Alterations seen in disease.
• Histology: Microscopic study of tissues.
• Lesion: Abnormal area of tissue (due to injury/disease).
• Tools: Radiographs, ultrasounds, biopsies.
👁️ Clinical Manifestations
How a disease presents itself
Term Definition Examples Memory
Cue
🔴 Sign 🩺 Objective – Fever, rash, edema, “Something seen/measured by
provider abnormal reflexes I can see”
🔴 Subjective – Pain, dizziness, “Something
