Guide & Practice Questions (Latest 2025-2027)
Accelerate your board preparation and pass the North Carolina Funeral Director
Pathology Exam with this comprehensive, high-yield study package. This resource
breaks down critical mortuary science concepts, including disease processes, tissue
alterations, decomposition stages, and specialized embalming considerations for
pathological conditions. Maximize your study efficiency and eliminate testing anxiety
using verified practice questions modeled directly after the official North Carolina board
exam blueprint
Anemia - CORRECT ANSWER A decrease in the number of red blood cells
QUESTION :Anerurysm - CORRECT ANSWER a localized weakening or dilation
of an artery wall
QUESTION :Anasarca - CORRECT ANSWER generalized or widespread edema
QUESTION :Addison's Disease - CORRECT ANSWER Disease resulting from a
deficiency in the secretion of adrenocortical hormones, with "bronze" discoloration of the
skin and electrolyte imbalances.
QUESTION :Aplasia - CORRECT ANSWER Absence of a body part
QUESTION :Arteriosclerosis - CORRECT ANSWER disease of the arteries
resulting in thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls
QUESTION :Arthritis - CORRECT ANSWER inflammation of a joint
QUESTION :Atrophy - CORRECT ANSWER A decrease in size of a body organ
or part
QUESTION :Autopsy - CORRECT ANSWER examination of a dead body
QUESTION :Chronic Disease - CORRECT ANSWER One of relatively slow onset
and long duration
,QUESTION :Bronchitis - CORRECT ANSWER inflammation of the mucous
membranes lining the bronchi
QUESTION :Dilation - CORRECT ANSWER Dilation or expansion of an organ or
vessel
QUESTION :Empyema - CORRECT ANSWER pus in the pleural cavity
QUESTION :Edema - CORRECT ANSWER an excess of tissue fluid in the
intercellular spaces of the body
QUESTION :Etiology - CORRECT ANSWER the study of the causes of disease
QUESTION :Embolism - CORRECT ANSWER Obstruction of a blood vessel by a
clot of blood or foreign substance
QUESTION :Endocarditis - CORRECT ANSWER inflammation of the inner lining
of the heart
QUESTION :Endogenous Pigmentation - CORRECT ANSWER discoloration of
the tissues by normal body pigments
QUESTION :Exogenous Pigmentation - CORRECT ANSWER Discoloration of the
tissues due to pigments which entered the body from the outside
QUESTION :Furuncle - CORRECT ANSWER An abscess located in the deeper
layers of the skin, as in a hair follicle
QUESTION :Gangrene - CORRECT ANSWER Necrosis of tissues due to lack of
blood supply
QUESTION :Glomerulonephritis - CORRECT ANSWER A form of nephritis, or
kidney inflammation, affecting the capillary structures within the kidney
QUESTION :Goiter - CORRECT ANSWER Enlargement of the thyroid gland
QUESTION :Graves Disease - CORRECT ANSWER A condition characterized by
increased metabolism, weight loss, and nervousness as a result of hypersecretion of
thyroid hormone
QUESTION :Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER A localized tumor-like swelling
filled with blood, as in a blood blister
, QUESTION :Hemophilia - CORRECT ANSWER Hereditary bleeding disorder
characterized by an abnormal tendency to bleed as a result of a genetic disorder in the
blood clotting mechanism
QUESTION :Hemorrhoids - CORRECT ANSWER Varicose veins of the rectum or
anal area
QUESTION :Hemothorax - CORRECT ANSWER Bleeding into the pleural cavity
QUESTION :Hepatitis - CORRECT ANSWER inflammation of the liver
QUESTION :Hydrocele - CORRECT ANSWER Collection of edematous fluid in a
sac-like cavity in the body, most commonly edema in the scrotum
QUESTION :Hydrothorax - CORRECT ANSWER collection of fluid in the pleural
cavity
QUESTION :Hyperemia - CORRECT ANSWER Excess blood in a body part;
congestion
QUESTION :Hyperplasia - CORRECT ANSWER An increase in the size of a body
part due to an increase in the number of cells in that part
QUESTION :Hypertrophy - CORRECT ANSWER Increase in the size of a body
part due to an increase in the size of the cells in that part
QUESTION :Idiopathic disease - CORRECT ANSWER A disease of unknown
cause
QUESTION :Infarction - CORRECT ANSWER Death of tissue due to lack of blood
supply
QUESTION :Infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER The passage and accumulation of
a substance into cells, tissues, or organs
QUESTION :Ischemia - CORRECT ANSWER Decreased blood flow to a body
part
QUESTION :Jaundice - CORRECT ANSWER Yellowish discoloration of the
tissues due to the presence of bile pigments (bilirubin) in the blood; icterus
QUESTION :Kyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER "Humpback" or abnormal posterior
curvature of the spine
, QUESTION :Lesion - CORRECT ANSWER An area of structural damage as the
result of disease
QUESTION :Leukocytosis - CORRECT ANSWER An increase in the number of
white blood cells
QUESTION :Leukopenia - CORRECT ANSWER A decrease in the number of
white blood cells
QUESTION :Metastasis - CORRECT ANSWER The spread of tumor cells from
one location to another via the blood or lymph nodes
QUESTION :Miliary Tuberculosis - CORRECT ANSWER Form of tuberculosis
where the lesions are scattered widely in various body organs and tissues.
QUESTION :Myocarditis - CORRECT ANSWER Inflammation of the heart muscle
QUESTION :Necrosis - CORRECT ANSWER A localized area of dead tissue
QUESTION :Nephrolithiasis - CORRECT ANSWER The process of kidney stone
formation
QUESTION :Nephritis - CORRECT ANSWER Inflammation of the kidney
QUESTION :Osteitis - CORRECT ANSWER Inflammation of the bone
QUESTION :Osteomalacia - CORRECT ANSWER Abnormal softening of the
bones in adults
QUESTION :Osteomyelitis - CORRECT ANSWER Inflammation of the bone
marrow
QUESTION :Osteoporosis - CORRECT ANSWER Disease of bone characterized
by the loss of bone density and increased porosity
QUESTION :Petechiae - CORRECT ANSWER Small spot-like, or "pin-point",
hemorrhages in the skin or mucous membranes
QUESTION :Pigmentation - CORRECT ANSWER The passage or accumulation
of abnormal amounts of coloring matters into the tissues