NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Quiz 1 — Enhanced Original Study Guide
High-yield review • Concept explanations • Clinical connections • Original practice questions
Source basis: public preview of a 6-page Stuvia NR283 Quiz 1 document uploaded in 2021. The preview covers
foundational pathophysiology, epidemiology, fluid/electrolyte balance, and related concepts.
Important: This is an original study guide, not a reproduction of the paid document. The practice questions below are newly
written and are not represented as actual or guaranteed exam questions.
CORE EXAM MAP
Domain Know cold
Pathophysiology basics Disease process, manifestations, acute vs chronic, prognosis
Epidemiology Incidence, prevalence, epidemic, pandemic, morbidity/mortality
Cell adaptation Atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia
Fluid balance Hydrostatic vs oncotic pressure, edema, third spacing
Electrolytes Na+, K+, Ca2+, common causes and clinical effects
History & assessment Medication, allergy, illness, surgery, OTC/herbal review
Clinical reasoning Connect mechanism → physiologic change → manifestation
Study strategy: learn the mechanism first, then attach the definition, then test yourself with a clinical example.
NR 283 Pathophysiology — Original Enhanced Study Guide Page 1
, 1. FOUNDATIONS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Pathophysiology explains the functional and structural changes that occur when disease disrupts normal physiology. Think of it
as the bridge between normal anatomy/physiology and clinical manifestations.
Term Meaning Exam cue
Etiology Cause or origin of a disease. “What caused it?”
Pathogenesis Mechanisms by which a disease develops and progresses. “How did it develop?”
Pathophysiology Functional/structural changes produced by disease. “What changed in the body?”
Manifestations Signs and symptoms produced by disease. “What does the patient show?”
Prognosis Expected course or outcome. “What is likely to happen?”
Acute Rapid onset, often relatively short duration. Think sudden/severe/short-term.
Chronic Persistent or long-lasting disease. Think prolonged/ongoing.
Latent Present but not clinically apparent or active. Think hidden/dormant.
Clinical chain to memorize
Etiology → pathogenesis → physiologic/structural change → manifestation → diagnosis → prognosis.
Example: prolonged pressure on tissue can reduce perfusion; inadequate oxygen delivery contributes to cellular injury; the
patient may develop pain, pallor, coolness, and impaired function. The key is to explain why the manifestation occurs.
2. EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE FREQUENCY
Concept Definition Memory cue
Incidence New cases occurring in a population during a specified period. IN = new cases IN
Prevalence All existing cases in a population at a specified time/period. PRESENT = prevalence
Epidemic More cases than expected in a population/area over a period. Excess in a defined population
Pandemic An epidemic spreading across countries/continents or globally. PAN = broad/global
Morbidity Illness/disease burden in a population. Morbidity = sickness
Mortality Deaths in a population. Mortality = death
High-yield distinction: incidence tracks new cases; prevalence describes the existing burden of disease. A condition with
long duration can have high prevalence even if relatively few new cases occur each year.
3. CELLULAR ADAPTATION
Adaptation What changes? Typical example
Atrophy Cell size decreases; tissue mass may decrease. Disuse-related muscle wasting
Hypertrophy Cell size increases. Skeletal muscle enlargement with resistance training
Hyperplasia Cell number increases. Hormone-driven tissue proliferation
Metaplasia One mature cell type is replaced by another mature cell type better
Protective
suited to
adaptation
stress. that may be reversible if the stimulus is removed
Dysplasia Abnormal cellular growth/maturation with variation in cell size/shape
May be
andassociated
organization.
with precancerous change
Do not confuse hypertrophy and hyperplasia: hypertrophy = bigger cells; hyperplasia = more cells. Some tissues can
show both, but the defining distinction is size versus number.
NR 283 Pathophysiology — Original Enhanced Study Guide Page 2
Quiz 1 — Enhanced Original Study Guide
High-yield review • Concept explanations • Clinical connections • Original practice questions
Source basis: public preview of a 6-page Stuvia NR283 Quiz 1 document uploaded in 2021. The preview covers
foundational pathophysiology, epidemiology, fluid/electrolyte balance, and related concepts.
Important: This is an original study guide, not a reproduction of the paid document. The practice questions below are newly
written and are not represented as actual or guaranteed exam questions.
CORE EXAM MAP
Domain Know cold
Pathophysiology basics Disease process, manifestations, acute vs chronic, prognosis
Epidemiology Incidence, prevalence, epidemic, pandemic, morbidity/mortality
Cell adaptation Atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia
Fluid balance Hydrostatic vs oncotic pressure, edema, third spacing
Electrolytes Na+, K+, Ca2+, common causes and clinical effects
History & assessment Medication, allergy, illness, surgery, OTC/herbal review
Clinical reasoning Connect mechanism → physiologic change → manifestation
Study strategy: learn the mechanism first, then attach the definition, then test yourself with a clinical example.
NR 283 Pathophysiology — Original Enhanced Study Guide Page 1
, 1. FOUNDATIONS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Pathophysiology explains the functional and structural changes that occur when disease disrupts normal physiology. Think of it
as the bridge between normal anatomy/physiology and clinical manifestations.
Term Meaning Exam cue
Etiology Cause or origin of a disease. “What caused it?”
Pathogenesis Mechanisms by which a disease develops and progresses. “How did it develop?”
Pathophysiology Functional/structural changes produced by disease. “What changed in the body?”
Manifestations Signs and symptoms produced by disease. “What does the patient show?”
Prognosis Expected course or outcome. “What is likely to happen?”
Acute Rapid onset, often relatively short duration. Think sudden/severe/short-term.
Chronic Persistent or long-lasting disease. Think prolonged/ongoing.
Latent Present but not clinically apparent or active. Think hidden/dormant.
Clinical chain to memorize
Etiology → pathogenesis → physiologic/structural change → manifestation → diagnosis → prognosis.
Example: prolonged pressure on tissue can reduce perfusion; inadequate oxygen delivery contributes to cellular injury; the
patient may develop pain, pallor, coolness, and impaired function. The key is to explain why the manifestation occurs.
2. EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE FREQUENCY
Concept Definition Memory cue
Incidence New cases occurring in a population during a specified period. IN = new cases IN
Prevalence All existing cases in a population at a specified time/period. PRESENT = prevalence
Epidemic More cases than expected in a population/area over a period. Excess in a defined population
Pandemic An epidemic spreading across countries/continents or globally. PAN = broad/global
Morbidity Illness/disease burden in a population. Morbidity = sickness
Mortality Deaths in a population. Mortality = death
High-yield distinction: incidence tracks new cases; prevalence describes the existing burden of disease. A condition with
long duration can have high prevalence even if relatively few new cases occur each year.
3. CELLULAR ADAPTATION
Adaptation What changes? Typical example
Atrophy Cell size decreases; tissue mass may decrease. Disuse-related muscle wasting
Hypertrophy Cell size increases. Skeletal muscle enlargement with resistance training
Hyperplasia Cell number increases. Hormone-driven tissue proliferation
Metaplasia One mature cell type is replaced by another mature cell type better
Protective
suited to
adaptation
stress. that may be reversible if the stimulus is removed
Dysplasia Abnormal cellular growth/maturation with variation in cell size/shape
May be
andassociated
organization.
with precancerous change
Do not confuse hypertrophy and hyperplasia: hypertrophy = bigger cells; hyperplasia = more cells. Some tissues can
show both, but the defining distinction is size versus number.
NR 283 Pathophysiology — Original Enhanced Study Guide Page 2
