NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
What is pathophysiology? - Correct Answers ✅study of
abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings & the
physiologic responses of an organism to disruptions in it's
internal & external environ
How is pathophysiology different from pathology &
physiology? - Correct Answers ✅- pathology = study of
causes/effects of diseases
- physiology = study of normal functions of living organisms
& their parts
What are the 4 components of pathophysiology? - Correct
Answers ✅1. Etiology
2. Pathogenesis
3. Clinical Manifestations
4. Treatment
1. Etiology - Correct Answers ✅study of causes/reasons for
phenomenon, disease, & injury
*often difficult to pinpoint bc of role of genetics & environ
What is meant by idiopathic? Ex? - Correct Answers ✅=
disease/condition is of unknown cause
> ex: chronic fatigue
,NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
What is meant by iatrogenic? Ex? - Correct Answers ✅=
disease/condition caused by unwanted or unintended medical
intervention > ex: hair loss caused by chemo therapy
What is meant by risk factor? - Correct Answers ✅= factor
that when present incr the risk for disease
2. Pathogenesis - Correct Answers ✅= development of
disease from initial stimulus to expression of manifestations
of the disease > ex: direct effects of initiating event,
physiological responses, & compensatory mechanisms
3. Clinical manifestations
Signs, Symptoms, & Syndromes? - Correct Answers ✅=
signs & symptoms (S/Sx)
- S = objective, observable manifestations of the disease
- Symptoms = subjective feelings of abnormality
- Syndrome = disorder that the etiology of S/Sx has not been
determined for yet
What are the specific stages of clinical manifestations? -
Correct Answers ✅> latent period = from exposure to
injurious agent to 1st appearance of S/Sx (aka incubation
period for infectious disease)
> prodromal period (prodrome) = appearance of S/Sx & onset
of disease
,NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
> manifest illness (acute phase) = disease at full intensity w
most severe S/Sx
- silent period(s) = when S/Sx ease/disappear before
returning
- subclinical stage = when pt functions normally even though
disease processes are established
> convalescence = recovery after disease, injury, or
operation
Define sequela & complication - Correct Answers ✅-
sequela = pathological chronic condition resulting from the
disease
- complication = new/separate acute process caused by a
change produced by the original problem
Define exacerbation & remission - Correct Answers ✅-
exacerbations = incr severity of S/Sx
- remissions = decr severity of S/Sx
*diseases often undergo alternating exacerbations &
remissions
*cured = 5+ years of remission
What are the 2 clinical courses of conditions/diseases? -
Correct Answers ✅1. acute condition = severe
manifestations but short course (hr/days/wks)
, NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
2. chronic condition = develop either w a prolonged acute
phase or gradually without an acute phase (months-years)
Ex: Explain the pathophysiology of type I diabetes mellitus (4
components) - Correct Answers ✅1. Etiology >
autoimmune destruction of pancreatic B cells
2. Pathogenesis > insulin deficiency > disturbed metabolism
of carbs, proteins, & fats
3. Clinical Manifestations > polyuria, dehydration,
macro/micro vascular lesions
4. Treatment > maintaining normal blood sugar levels
Ex: What are some possible treatments for diabetes? -
Correct Answers ✅regular blood sugar level monitoring,
insulin therapy, diet & lifestyle changes (exercise)
How do we determine health & disease? - Correct Answers
✅we use diagnostic testing & statistical normality to identify
normal & abnormal variation
What do we use to compare health & disease? - Correct
Answers ✅= normal distribution/the "bell curve" (using a
large sample of a pop. to give a good estimate of the
"normal" values in that pop.)
- normal range = mean +/- 2 standard deviations > ex: 5% of
the normal pop. may fall outside the normal range w/out
demonstrating disease
and Answers (Latest 2026)
What is pathophysiology? - Correct Answers ✅study of
abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings & the
physiologic responses of an organism to disruptions in it's
internal & external environ
How is pathophysiology different from pathology &
physiology? - Correct Answers ✅- pathology = study of
causes/effects of diseases
- physiology = study of normal functions of living organisms
& their parts
What are the 4 components of pathophysiology? - Correct
Answers ✅1. Etiology
2. Pathogenesis
3. Clinical Manifestations
4. Treatment
1. Etiology - Correct Answers ✅study of causes/reasons for
phenomenon, disease, & injury
*often difficult to pinpoint bc of role of genetics & environ
What is meant by idiopathic? Ex? - Correct Answers ✅=
disease/condition is of unknown cause
> ex: chronic fatigue
,NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
What is meant by iatrogenic? Ex? - Correct Answers ✅=
disease/condition caused by unwanted or unintended medical
intervention > ex: hair loss caused by chemo therapy
What is meant by risk factor? - Correct Answers ✅= factor
that when present incr the risk for disease
2. Pathogenesis - Correct Answers ✅= development of
disease from initial stimulus to expression of manifestations
of the disease > ex: direct effects of initiating event,
physiological responses, & compensatory mechanisms
3. Clinical manifestations
Signs, Symptoms, & Syndromes? - Correct Answers ✅=
signs & symptoms (S/Sx)
- S = objective, observable manifestations of the disease
- Symptoms = subjective feelings of abnormality
- Syndrome = disorder that the etiology of S/Sx has not been
determined for yet
What are the specific stages of clinical manifestations? -
Correct Answers ✅> latent period = from exposure to
injurious agent to 1st appearance of S/Sx (aka incubation
period for infectious disease)
> prodromal period (prodrome) = appearance of S/Sx & onset
of disease
,NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
> manifest illness (acute phase) = disease at full intensity w
most severe S/Sx
- silent period(s) = when S/Sx ease/disappear before
returning
- subclinical stage = when pt functions normally even though
disease processes are established
> convalescence = recovery after disease, injury, or
operation
Define sequela & complication - Correct Answers ✅-
sequela = pathological chronic condition resulting from the
disease
- complication = new/separate acute process caused by a
change produced by the original problem
Define exacerbation & remission - Correct Answers ✅-
exacerbations = incr severity of S/Sx
- remissions = decr severity of S/Sx
*diseases often undergo alternating exacerbations &
remissions
*cured = 5+ years of remission
What are the 2 clinical courses of conditions/diseases? -
Correct Answers ✅1. acute condition = severe
manifestations but short course (hr/days/wks)
, NURS 220 Patho I Final Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest 2026)
2. chronic condition = develop either w a prolonged acute
phase or gradually without an acute phase (months-years)
Ex: Explain the pathophysiology of type I diabetes mellitus (4
components) - Correct Answers ✅1. Etiology >
autoimmune destruction of pancreatic B cells
2. Pathogenesis > insulin deficiency > disturbed metabolism
of carbs, proteins, & fats
3. Clinical Manifestations > polyuria, dehydration,
macro/micro vascular lesions
4. Treatment > maintaining normal blood sugar levels
Ex: What are some possible treatments for diabetes? -
Correct Answers ✅regular blood sugar level monitoring,
insulin therapy, diet & lifestyle changes (exercise)
How do we determine health & disease? - Correct Answers
✅we use diagnostic testing & statistical normality to identify
normal & abnormal variation
What do we use to compare health & disease? - Correct
Answers ✅= normal distribution/the "bell curve" (using a
large sample of a pop. to give a good estimate of the
"normal" values in that pop.)
- normal range = mean +/- 2 standard deviations > ex: 5% of
the normal pop. may fall outside the normal range w/out
demonstrating disease
