U N I V E R S I T Y O F A L A B A M A AT B I R M I N G H A M · S C H O O L O F N U R S I N G
NUR 612 Exam 1
Practice Question Bank
Advanced Pathophysiology — NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with
Rationales
Topic Focus: Foundations of Pathophysiology, Growth & Development,
Gerontology, Thermoregulation
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Advanced Pathophysiology 2
NUR 612 · UAB School of Nursing Page 1
,NUR 612 EXAM 1 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Advanced Pathophysiology — Module 1 Foundations
1 A nurse is studying the normal functions of the human body. This is the study of
which of the following?
A Pathophysiology
B Physiology
C Epidemiology
D Histology
Why B is correct: Physiology is the study of the normal functions of the human body.
A — Pathophysiology is the study of cellular and organ changes that occur with disease.
C — Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in human populations.
D — Histology is the microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix.
,2 A nurse is reviewing the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease and the
effects these changes have on total body function. This is the study of which of the
following?
A Pathophysiology
B Physiology
C Epidemiology
D Histology
Why A is correct: Pathophysiology is the study of the cellular and organ changes that occur
with disease and the effects these changes have on total body function.
B — Physiology is the study of normal functions.
C — Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in populations.
D — Histology is the microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix.
3 A nurse is explaining the cause of a disease to a client. Which term describes the
cause of a disease?
A Pathogenesis
B Etiology
C Morphology
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Etiology explains the cause of the disease.
A — Pathogenesis is how the disease process evolves.
C — Morphology describes the microscopic and gross changes characteristic of a disease.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow or are caused by a disease.
, 4 A nurse is studying how a disease process evolves from initial contact with an
etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease. This is known as which of
the following?
A Etiology
B Pathogenesis
C Morphology
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Pathogenesis is the sequence of cellular and tissue events that occur
from initial contact with an etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease
occurs.
A — Etiology explains the cause of the disease.
C — Morphology describes microscopic and gross changes.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow a disease.
5 A nurse is documenting that a patient has subjective complaints of pain and
headache. These are examples of which of the following?
A Signs
B Symptoms
C Syndrome
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Symptoms are subjective complaints noted by the person with the
disorder, such as pain, difficulty breathing, headache, or blurred vision.
A — Signs are disease manifestations noted by the observer, such as temperature elevation.
C — A syndrome is a compilation of signs and symptoms.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow a disease.
NUR 612 Exam 1
Practice Question Bank
Advanced Pathophysiology — NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with
Rationales
Topic Focus: Foundations of Pathophysiology, Growth & Development,
Gerontology, Thermoregulation
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Advanced Pathophysiology 2
NUR 612 · UAB School of Nursing Page 1
,NUR 612 EXAM 1 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Advanced Pathophysiology — Module 1 Foundations
1 A nurse is studying the normal functions of the human body. This is the study of
which of the following?
A Pathophysiology
B Physiology
C Epidemiology
D Histology
Why B is correct: Physiology is the study of the normal functions of the human body.
A — Pathophysiology is the study of cellular and organ changes that occur with disease.
C — Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in human populations.
D — Histology is the microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix.
,2 A nurse is reviewing the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease and the
effects these changes have on total body function. This is the study of which of the
following?
A Pathophysiology
B Physiology
C Epidemiology
D Histology
Why A is correct: Pathophysiology is the study of the cellular and organ changes that occur
with disease and the effects these changes have on total body function.
B — Physiology is the study of normal functions.
C — Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in populations.
D — Histology is the microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix.
3 A nurse is explaining the cause of a disease to a client. Which term describes the
cause of a disease?
A Pathogenesis
B Etiology
C Morphology
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Etiology explains the cause of the disease.
A — Pathogenesis is how the disease process evolves.
C — Morphology describes the microscopic and gross changes characteristic of a disease.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow or are caused by a disease.
, 4 A nurse is studying how a disease process evolves from initial contact with an
etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease. This is known as which of
the following?
A Etiology
B Pathogenesis
C Morphology
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Pathogenesis is the sequence of cellular and tissue events that occur
from initial contact with an etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease
occurs.
A — Etiology explains the cause of the disease.
C — Morphology describes microscopic and gross changes.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow a disease.
5 A nurse is documenting that a patient has subjective complaints of pain and
headache. These are examples of which of the following?
A Signs
B Symptoms
C Syndrome
D Sequelae
Why B is correct: Symptoms are subjective complaints noted by the person with the
disorder, such as pain, difficulty breathing, headache, or blurred vision.
A — Signs are disease manifestations noted by the observer, such as temperature elevation.
C — A syndrome is a compilation of signs and symptoms.
D — Sequelae are lesions or impairments that follow a disease.
