NUR 612 Advanced
Pathophysiology Exam 1 Study
Guide | Module 1 Practice
Questions UAB 2026/2027
,Physiology Study of the normal functions of the human body
Pathophysiology The study of the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease and the effects
that these changes have on the total body function
Focuses on the mechanism of the underlying disease and provides information to
assist with planning preventive as well as therapeutic health care measures and
practices such as following a healthy diet, exercising, and being compliant with
prescribed medications
Determinants of Health Attain lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
Achieve health equity and eliminate disparities
Promote good health for all
Promote healthy behaviors across the life span
Disease An acute or chronic illness that one acquires or is born with that causes
physiological dysfunction in one or more body system
Etiology Explains the cause of the disease
Pathogenesis How the disease process evolves
Sequence of cellular and tissue events that occur from initial contact with an
etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease occurs
Morphologic changes The microscopic and gross changes that are characteristic in a disease process
Histology The microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix
Lesion A pathologic or traumatic change of an organ or tissue
Clinical Manifestations The hidden or obvious evidence that a person is sick
Symptoms Subjective complaints noted by the person with the disorder such as pain, difficulty
breathing, headache, blurred vision
Signs Disease manifestations noted by the observer such as temperature elevation, a
blown pupil and pitting edema
Syndrome A compilation of signs and symptoms
Complication Adverse extension of a disease or treatment
, Sequelae Lesions or impairments that follow or are caused by a disease
Diagnosis Designation as to cause or nature of a health problem; involves evaluating
competing possibilities and selecting the most likely one from many conditions in a
given age, gender, race, lifestyle, genetic background and locality based upon
History The person's account of symptoms, progress, and factors that contribute to a
diagnosis
Physical Exam Performed to identify signs of altered body structure or functions; also may identify
problems not obtained in the history
Acute disorder Relatively severe, but self-limited
Subacute disorder Intermediate between an acute and a chronic disorder, general not as severe as an
acute disorder and does not last as long as a chronic disorder
Chronic disorder Continous, long-term process
May improve or get worse
Preclinical stage Disease is not clinically evident but will progress to clinical disease
Sublcinical disease Not clinically apparent and not destined to become a clinical disease
Clinical disease The disease is present as manifested by signs and symptoms
Carrier Status A person has an organism but is not infected as evidenced by an antibody response
or by clinical manifestations; this person CAN infect others
Epidemiology The study of disease occurrence in human populations
Incidence Reflects the number of new cases of a particular illness during a specified time for a
population at risk that does not have the disease
Prevalence Measures existing disease in a population at a given point in time
Morbidity Describes the effects of an illness
Pathophysiology Exam 1 Study
Guide | Module 1 Practice
Questions UAB 2026/2027
,Physiology Study of the normal functions of the human body
Pathophysiology The study of the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease and the effects
that these changes have on the total body function
Focuses on the mechanism of the underlying disease and provides information to
assist with planning preventive as well as therapeutic health care measures and
practices such as following a healthy diet, exercising, and being compliant with
prescribed medications
Determinants of Health Attain lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
Achieve health equity and eliminate disparities
Promote good health for all
Promote healthy behaviors across the life span
Disease An acute or chronic illness that one acquires or is born with that causes
physiological dysfunction in one or more body system
Etiology Explains the cause of the disease
Pathogenesis How the disease process evolves
Sequence of cellular and tissue events that occur from initial contact with an
etiologic agent until the ultimate expression of the disease occurs
Morphologic changes The microscopic and gross changes that are characteristic in a disease process
Histology The microscopic study of cells and extracellular matrix
Lesion A pathologic or traumatic change of an organ or tissue
Clinical Manifestations The hidden or obvious evidence that a person is sick
Symptoms Subjective complaints noted by the person with the disorder such as pain, difficulty
breathing, headache, blurred vision
Signs Disease manifestations noted by the observer such as temperature elevation, a
blown pupil and pitting edema
Syndrome A compilation of signs and symptoms
Complication Adverse extension of a disease or treatment
, Sequelae Lesions or impairments that follow or are caused by a disease
Diagnosis Designation as to cause or nature of a health problem; involves evaluating
competing possibilities and selecting the most likely one from many conditions in a
given age, gender, race, lifestyle, genetic background and locality based upon
History The person's account of symptoms, progress, and factors that contribute to a
diagnosis
Physical Exam Performed to identify signs of altered body structure or functions; also may identify
problems not obtained in the history
Acute disorder Relatively severe, but self-limited
Subacute disorder Intermediate between an acute and a chronic disorder, general not as severe as an
acute disorder and does not last as long as a chronic disorder
Chronic disorder Continous, long-term process
May improve or get worse
Preclinical stage Disease is not clinically evident but will progress to clinical disease
Sublcinical disease Not clinically apparent and not destined to become a clinical disease
Clinical disease The disease is present as manifested by signs and symptoms
Carrier Status A person has an organism but is not infected as evidenced by an antibody response
or by clinical manifestations; this person CAN infect others
Epidemiology The study of disease occurrence in human populations
Incidence Reflects the number of new cases of a particular illness during a specified time for a
population at risk that does not have the disease
Prevalence Measures existing disease in a population at a given point in time
Morbidity Describes the effects of an illness
