NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm

NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology
Midterm 2026/2027
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Master framework: For every disorder ask: What changed? Why did it change? What compensates? What fails next? Which
finding best proves the mechanism?


Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Death
• Hypertrophy vs hyperplasia vs atrophy vs metaplasia vs dysplasia

• ATP depletion, ion-pump failure, calcium influx, oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury

• Coagulative, liquefactive, caseous, fat and fibrinoid necrosis

• Apoptosis and regulated cell death

• Ischemia and reperfusion injury
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Inflammation & Innate Immunity
• Acute vs chronic inflammation

• Neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and mast cells

• Complement, cytokines, chemokines and leukocyte migration

• Exudate vs transudate; fever and acute-phase response

• Systemic inflammation and tissue injury
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Adaptive Immunity & Immune Disorders
• B cells, T cells, antigen presentation and immunoglobulins

• Type I–IV hypersensitivity

• Autoimmunity and loss of tolerance

• Immunodeficiency

• Immune-complex tissue injury
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Genetics & Genetic Disease
• DNA/RNA and gene expression

• Autosomal dominant/recessive and X-linked inheritance

• Penetrance, expressivity and mutation

• Chromosomal disorders

,• Multifactorial gene–environment interactions
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Fluids, Electrolytes & Acid–Base
• Osmolality, tonicity and fluid compartments

• Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium disturbances

• Metabolic and respiratory acidosis/alkalosis

• Compensation and anion gap

• Edema: hydrostatic, oncotic, lymphatic and inflammatory mechanisms
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Stress, Adaptation & Disease
• HPA axis and sympathetic response

• Cortisol and chronic stress

• Allostatic load

• Stress–immune interactions

• Adaptive versus maladaptive responses
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Hematologic Pathophysiology
• Anemia from production failure, destruction or blood loss

• Iron, B12 and folate patterns

• Hemolysis and sickling

• Thrombosis, bleeding and coagulation

• Marrow and leukocyte disorders
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
• Hypertension and vascular remodeling

• Atherosclerosis and ischemic disease

• Heart failure, preload, afterload and neurohormonal activation

• Dysrhythmias and conduction

• Valvular disease and shock
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Respiratory Pathophysiology
• Ventilation, perfusion and diffusion

• Obstructive vs restrictive disease

• Asthma and COPD

, • Pneumonia and inflammatory lung injury

• Pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
• GFR and autoregulation

• AKI vs CKD

• Glomerular injury and proteinuria

• Acid–base/electrolyte consequences

• Fluid retention and uremia
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


GI, Hepatic & Pancreatic Pathophysiology
• GERD and mucosal injury

• Inflammatory bowel disease and malabsorption

• Cirrhosis, portal hypertension and ascites

• Pancreatitis

• Liver synthetic and metabolic dysfunction
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders
• Insulin physiology and diabetes

• Thyroid hypo/hyperfunction

• Adrenal disorders

• Pituitary feedback loops

• Metabolic consequences of hormone excess/deficiency
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Neurologic Pathophysiology
• Stroke and cerebral perfusion

• Seizures

• Raised intracranial pressure

• Alzheimer/Parkinson concepts

• Demyelination and peripheral nerve injury
Exam lens: Link mechanism → physiologic consequence → compensation → manifestation.


Musculoskeletal, Reproductive & Integumentary
• Bone remodeling and osteoporosis

• Inflammatory vs degenerative joint disease