HOSA Pathophysiology Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
abduct - ✔✔move an arm or leg away from the body
abruptio placentae - ✔✔detachment of the placenta from the uterus before birth; often
results in severe bleeding
ablation - ✔✔excision or removal
abscess - ✔✔a localized collection of pus surrounded by swollen tissue
acetabulum - ✔✔the cup-shaped cavity in which the ball-shaped head of the femur
articulates; hip socket
achalasia - ✔✔failure of the esophagogastric sphincter to relax with swallowing
acholic - ✔✔pale or clay-colored; this type of stool usually results from problems in the
biliary system
acidemia - ✔✔a decreased pH of the blood; increased hydrogen ion concentration
acidosis - ✔✔a pathologic condition resulting from an abnormal increase in the level of
hydrogen ions in the body (decrease in pH), resulting from the accumulation of acid or
loss of the alkaline reserve
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,acute abdomen - ✔✔an abdominal condition of sudden onset, accompanied by pain
resulting from intraabdominal inflammation or infection
acyanotic - ✔✔absence of a bluish appearance of the skin and mucous membranes
adenocarcinoma - ✔✔a cancerous tumor arising from glandular tissue
adenoma - ✔✔a benign neoplasm in which cells are derived from glandular epithelium
adenosarcoma - ✔✔a cancerous gland-like tumor, such as Wilms' tumor
adenovirus - ✔✔a virus pathogenic to humans that causes conjunctivitis, upper
respiratory infection, cystitis, or GI infection; may persist in lymphoid tissue in latent
period of the infection
adnexal - ✔✔pertaining to accessory organs or tissues; an appendage(s)
agglutination - ✔✔the clumping of antigens with antibodies or of the red blood cells
from one type of blood with the red blood cells of another type
aggregation - ✔✔the coming together of entities such as platelets, blood cells, or
diseases
agranulocytosis - ✔✔a condition of the blood marked by a sudden decrease in the
number of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell); occurs in lesions of the throat or
other mucous membranes or as a side effect of the administration of certain drugs or
radiation
alkalosis - ✔✔excessive alkalinity of body fluids
allergen - ✔✔an antigenic substance capable of producing an allergic response in the
body
allograft - ✔✔a graft of tissue between genetically different individuals of the same
species
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,amblyopia - ✔✔reduced vision in an eye without a detectable organic lesion
amnesia - ✔✔a loss of memory; inability to recall past experiences
amniography - ✔✔radiography (after injection of radiopaque contrast medium into the
amniotic fluid) of the pregnant uterus to detect placement of the placenta, the amniotic
cavity, and the fetus
amniotic fluid - ✔✔a transparent albuminous liquid made by the amnion and the fetus;
surrounds and protects the fetus during pregnancy
amylase - ✔✔an enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas that helps in
digestion of starches
amyloid - ✔✔a waxy, starchlike protein that tends to build up in tissues and organs in
certain pathologic conditions
analgesia - ✔✔relief of pain
analogue - ✔✔a drug that resembles another but has different effects
anaphylaxis - ✔✔a severe systemic allergic response characterized by redness, itching,
swelling, and water buildup (angioedema); in severe cases, life-threatening respiratory
distress occurs and the blood pressure drops rapidly (anaphylactic shock)
anaplastic - ✔✔a change in the orientation and structure of cells; a loss of differentiation
that is characteristic of malignancy
anastomosis - ✔✔the surgical or pathologic connection between two vessels or tubular
structures
anesthesia - ✔✔partial of complete loss of sensation caused by injury, diseases, or the
administration of an anesthetic agent
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, angina pectoris - ✔✔paroxysmal chest pain, which often radiates to the arms and may
be accompanied by a feeling of suffocation and impending death; the most common
cause is a shortage of oxygen to the cardiac muscle linked with coronary artery disease
angioplasty - ✔✔repair of a narrowed blood vessel through surgery or other
angiographic procedures
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) - ✔✔an enzyme found on the surface of blood
vessels in the lungs and other tissues with vasopressive action
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors - ✔✔agents that inhibit angiotensin-
converting enzyme (a potent vasoconstrictor) and promote relaxation of blood vessels
ankylosis - ✔✔immobility of a joint
anorexia - ✔✔loss of appetite for food
anosmia - ✔✔impairment or loss of smell
antibody - ✔✔an immunoglobulin that may combine with a specific antigen to destroy
or control it
anticholinergic - ✔✔a drug used to block the transmission of parasympathetic nerve
impulses
anticholinesterase - ✔✔any enzyme that counteracts the action of the choline esters
anticoagulant - ✔✔any substance that delays or prevents blood clotting
antiemetic - ✔✔a medication that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting
antigen - ✔✔any substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies
antimicrobial - ✔✔a substance that kills microorganisms or suppresses their growth
antipyretic - ✔✔a drug or treatment that reduces or relieves fever
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers
abduct - ✔✔move an arm or leg away from the body
abruptio placentae - ✔✔detachment of the placenta from the uterus before birth; often
results in severe bleeding
ablation - ✔✔excision or removal
abscess - ✔✔a localized collection of pus surrounded by swollen tissue
acetabulum - ✔✔the cup-shaped cavity in which the ball-shaped head of the femur
articulates; hip socket
achalasia - ✔✔failure of the esophagogastric sphincter to relax with swallowing
acholic - ✔✔pale or clay-colored; this type of stool usually results from problems in the
biliary system
acidemia - ✔✔a decreased pH of the blood; increased hydrogen ion concentration
acidosis - ✔✔a pathologic condition resulting from an abnormal increase in the level of
hydrogen ions in the body (decrease in pH), resulting from the accumulation of acid or
loss of the alkaline reserve
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,acute abdomen - ✔✔an abdominal condition of sudden onset, accompanied by pain
resulting from intraabdominal inflammation or infection
acyanotic - ✔✔absence of a bluish appearance of the skin and mucous membranes
adenocarcinoma - ✔✔a cancerous tumor arising from glandular tissue
adenoma - ✔✔a benign neoplasm in which cells are derived from glandular epithelium
adenosarcoma - ✔✔a cancerous gland-like tumor, such as Wilms' tumor
adenovirus - ✔✔a virus pathogenic to humans that causes conjunctivitis, upper
respiratory infection, cystitis, or GI infection; may persist in lymphoid tissue in latent
period of the infection
adnexal - ✔✔pertaining to accessory organs or tissues; an appendage(s)
agglutination - ✔✔the clumping of antigens with antibodies or of the red blood cells
from one type of blood with the red blood cells of another type
aggregation - ✔✔the coming together of entities such as platelets, blood cells, or
diseases
agranulocytosis - ✔✔a condition of the blood marked by a sudden decrease in the
number of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell); occurs in lesions of the throat or
other mucous membranes or as a side effect of the administration of certain drugs or
radiation
alkalosis - ✔✔excessive alkalinity of body fluids
allergen - ✔✔an antigenic substance capable of producing an allergic response in the
body
allograft - ✔✔a graft of tissue between genetically different individuals of the same
species
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,amblyopia - ✔✔reduced vision in an eye without a detectable organic lesion
amnesia - ✔✔a loss of memory; inability to recall past experiences
amniography - ✔✔radiography (after injection of radiopaque contrast medium into the
amniotic fluid) of the pregnant uterus to detect placement of the placenta, the amniotic
cavity, and the fetus
amniotic fluid - ✔✔a transparent albuminous liquid made by the amnion and the fetus;
surrounds and protects the fetus during pregnancy
amylase - ✔✔an enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas that helps in
digestion of starches
amyloid - ✔✔a waxy, starchlike protein that tends to build up in tissues and organs in
certain pathologic conditions
analgesia - ✔✔relief of pain
analogue - ✔✔a drug that resembles another but has different effects
anaphylaxis - ✔✔a severe systemic allergic response characterized by redness, itching,
swelling, and water buildup (angioedema); in severe cases, life-threatening respiratory
distress occurs and the blood pressure drops rapidly (anaphylactic shock)
anaplastic - ✔✔a change in the orientation and structure of cells; a loss of differentiation
that is characteristic of malignancy
anastomosis - ✔✔the surgical or pathologic connection between two vessels or tubular
structures
anesthesia - ✔✔partial of complete loss of sensation caused by injury, diseases, or the
administration of an anesthetic agent
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, angina pectoris - ✔✔paroxysmal chest pain, which often radiates to the arms and may
be accompanied by a feeling of suffocation and impending death; the most common
cause is a shortage of oxygen to the cardiac muscle linked with coronary artery disease
angioplasty - ✔✔repair of a narrowed blood vessel through surgery or other
angiographic procedures
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) - ✔✔an enzyme found on the surface of blood
vessels in the lungs and other tissues with vasopressive action
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors - ✔✔agents that inhibit angiotensin-
converting enzyme (a potent vasoconstrictor) and promote relaxation of blood vessels
ankylosis - ✔✔immobility of a joint
anorexia - ✔✔loss of appetite for food
anosmia - ✔✔impairment or loss of smell
antibody - ✔✔an immunoglobulin that may combine with a specific antigen to destroy
or control it
anticholinergic - ✔✔a drug used to block the transmission of parasympathetic nerve
impulses
anticholinesterase - ✔✔any enzyme that counteracts the action of the choline esters
anticoagulant - ✔✔any substance that delays or prevents blood clotting
antiemetic - ✔✔a medication that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting
antigen - ✔✔any substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies
antimicrobial - ✔✔a substance that kills microorganisms or suppresses their growth
antipyretic - ✔✔a drug or treatment that reduces or relieves fever
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
