MSN 6100 Final Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Summarize and explain the core principles of functional medicine - Answers BPDWHE
(1) biochemical individuality (2) pt centered care (3) dynamic balance between external and
internal factors (4) web-like interconnectedness (5) health as a positive vitality (6) enhancement
of organ reserve
State the characteristics and explain the importance of biochemical individuality State the
characteristics and explain the importance of biochemical individuality and patient centered
care - Answers -concept that each individual has a unique physiological and biochemical
composition, based upon his or her individual genetic make-up, that interacts with the
individual's specific environment and inputs (experiences, nutrients, activity, toxins, medications,
etc.), to influence gene expression.
-gene expression related to proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics
-Considers variations in DNA → affect gene expression & Our dietary habits, environment, and
lifestyle → affect gene expression (i.e., these effects are NOT attributed to changes in DNA
sequence)
State the characteristics and explain the importance of patient centered care - Answers -
Applying the model of person-centered diagnosis to patients facilitates a broader understanding
of a patient's chronic illness and how to most effectively approach it.
-Disease pathogenesis is conceptualized in the antecedents, triggers, and mediators (ATMs).
7 Factors to pt centered care - Answers --Person centered dx, considering ATMs and
--Consider also the physical and social environment in which sickness occurs
--dietary habits of the person who is sick (present diet and preillness diet)
--beliefs of the patient about the illness
--impact of illness on social and psychological function
--factors that aggravate or ameliorate symptoms
--factors that predispose to illness or facilitate recovery
Antecedants - Answers factors, genetic or acquired, that predispose to illness.
Triggers - Answers factors that provoke the symptoms and signs of illness.
Mediators - Answers factors, biochemical or psychosocial, that contribute to pathological
changes and dysfunctional responses.
,State the characteristics and explain the importance of dynamic balance - Answers -
homeostasis: balance of internal and external factors (not only internal)
allostasis - Answers The process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, through physiological or
behavioral change.
Homeodynamics - Answers the tendency of homeostatic set points to change throughout an
organism's lifespan, and thus describes how departures from a homeostatic norm can be
adaptive (e.g., fever) or pathological, depending on the context.
homeostasis . - Answers the tendency of living things to maintain physiological parameters
within a narrow range usually considered normal in order to maintain optimal function. Under
this definition, disease can be defined as a departure from the homeostatic state
State the characteristics and explain the importance of web-like interconnections - why do we
use a multidirectional web? - Answers Definition: when multiple core imbalances lead to one
disease/condition AND/OR one core imbalance leads to multiple diseases/conditions
• Core imbalances can influence many different body functions and systems
• Sometimes there is no core imbalance, but there are several biochemical pathways that are off
-center and affect health.
Core Imbalances - Answers ADEBCTS (1) Assimilation (2) Defense and repair (3) energy (4)
biotransformation (5) communication (6) transport (7) structural integrity
State the characteristics and explain the importance of health as a positive vitality - Answers
state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity
State the characteristics and explain the importance of promotion of organ reserve - Answers -
Definition: difference between the maximal function of a vital organ and the level of function
required to maintain an individual's daily life
-i.e. "reserve power" - ability to go above & beyond what is required
-declines with stress (medications, toxins), aging, and illness
-most sig changes occur in heart, lungs, and kidney
Identify the similarities between functional medicine and conventional Western medicine -
Answers
Identify the differences between functional medicine and conventional Western medicine -
Answers · Root causes vs symptoms of the disease.
· Patient-centered as opposed to disease-centered.
,· Preventive: treats the disease at an early stage instead of at a later stage when the disease
requires clinical intervention.
· Emphasizes that diseases are caused by altered physiological processes (root causes) and
imbalanced bodily systems (core imbalances).
Analyses the patient's story, signs, symptoms, and laboratory results instead of matching
diagnosis with drug/hardware interventions
· Describe and clarify scenarios when one type of healthcare might be more appropriate and
beneficial to the patient - Answers i. For acute conditions (e.g., a heart attack, a broken leg,
appendicitis, a sudden lung infection, etc.), you need CM with its life-saving technology, surgery,
and antibiotics.
ii. For chronic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, IBS, neurological disorders,
musculoskeletal disorders, autoimmune diseases, obesity, & certain types of cancers), FM
might be an effective approach.
· Explain the importance of gather - Answers -Information through intake forms, questionnaires,
the initial consultation, physical exam, and objective data.
-A detailed functional medicine history taken appropriate to age, gender, and nature of
presenting problems.
-ABCDs (Anthropometrics, Biomarkers, clinical indicators, diet and lifestyle assessment)
-Form ex: Medical symptom questionnaire (MSQ) • Diet and lifestyle assessments (e.g., sleep
questionnaire; exercise history; diet, nutrition, and lifestyle; depression, anxiety, and stress
scales; adult (or child) toxin exposure questionnaire; life stress questionnaire; environmental
sensitivity questionnaire, FM timeline
Explain the importance of organize - Answers the subjective and objective details from the
patient's story within the functional medicine paradigm. Positioning the patient's presenting
signs and symptoms, along with the details of the case history on the timeline
-Put timeline into FM matrix (ATM), modifiable personal lifestyle factor, and retelling pt's
story/ATMs
Explain the importance of tell - Answers Tell the story back to the patient in your own words to
ensure accuracy and understanding. The re-telling of the patient's story is a dialogue about the
case highlights including the antecedents, triggers, and mediators identified in the history,
correlating them to the timeline and matrix. The patient is asked to join in correcting and
amplifying the story.
Explain the Importance of Order - Answers -order and prioritize the patient's information:
, -1) Acknowledge patient's goals. 2) Address modifiable lifestyle factors. 3) What are the
insufficiencies/excesses?
-Identify core imbalances or disruptions on FM matrix.
Root Causes of Disease - Answers -Toxins (biologic, elemental, synthetic)
-Allergens (food, mold, dust, animal products, pollen, chemicals)
-Microbes (bacteria, ticks, yeast, parasites, prions)
-Stress (physical, psychological)
-Poor diet (SAD-Standard American Diet)
Explain the importance of initiate/intervene - Answers Therapeutic interventions
-phytonutrient spectrum of foods, elimination diet, cardiometabolic food plan, GI specific plans,
detox food plan, energy food plan, sleep, meditation,
·Explain the importance of track - Answers assessments, note the effectiveness of therapeutic
approaches, and identify clinical outcomes at each visit —in partnership with the patient.
-MSQ, ABCDs,
Assimilation - Answers -digestion, absorption, microbiota/GI respiration
*Produces ¾ of the neurotransmitters. *✓Contains 2/3+ of the immune cells. *✓Contains 10x
more cells than the rest of the body combined.
*✓Houses a genome 100x greater than the human genome.
*✓Has a metabolic activity greater than that of the liver.
Defense and Repair - Answers
Energy - Answers
Biotransformation - Answers
Communication - Answers
Transport - Answers
Structural integrity - Answers
ID methods of assessing/determining core imbalances
--> Summarize and explain the components of the functional medicine matrix - Answers
Summarize and explain the core principles of functional medicine - Answers BPDWHE
(1) biochemical individuality (2) pt centered care (3) dynamic balance between external and
internal factors (4) web-like interconnectedness (5) health as a positive vitality (6) enhancement
of organ reserve
State the characteristics and explain the importance of biochemical individuality State the
characteristics and explain the importance of biochemical individuality and patient centered
care - Answers -concept that each individual has a unique physiological and biochemical
composition, based upon his or her individual genetic make-up, that interacts with the
individual's specific environment and inputs (experiences, nutrients, activity, toxins, medications,
etc.), to influence gene expression.
-gene expression related to proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics
-Considers variations in DNA → affect gene expression & Our dietary habits, environment, and
lifestyle → affect gene expression (i.e., these effects are NOT attributed to changes in DNA
sequence)
State the characteristics and explain the importance of patient centered care - Answers -
Applying the model of person-centered diagnosis to patients facilitates a broader understanding
of a patient's chronic illness and how to most effectively approach it.
-Disease pathogenesis is conceptualized in the antecedents, triggers, and mediators (ATMs).
7 Factors to pt centered care - Answers --Person centered dx, considering ATMs and
--Consider also the physical and social environment in which sickness occurs
--dietary habits of the person who is sick (present diet and preillness diet)
--beliefs of the patient about the illness
--impact of illness on social and psychological function
--factors that aggravate or ameliorate symptoms
--factors that predispose to illness or facilitate recovery
Antecedants - Answers factors, genetic or acquired, that predispose to illness.
Triggers - Answers factors that provoke the symptoms and signs of illness.
Mediators - Answers factors, biochemical or psychosocial, that contribute to pathological
changes and dysfunctional responses.
,State the characteristics and explain the importance of dynamic balance - Answers -
homeostasis: balance of internal and external factors (not only internal)
allostasis - Answers The process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, through physiological or
behavioral change.
Homeodynamics - Answers the tendency of homeostatic set points to change throughout an
organism's lifespan, and thus describes how departures from a homeostatic norm can be
adaptive (e.g., fever) or pathological, depending on the context.
homeostasis . - Answers the tendency of living things to maintain physiological parameters
within a narrow range usually considered normal in order to maintain optimal function. Under
this definition, disease can be defined as a departure from the homeostatic state
State the characteristics and explain the importance of web-like interconnections - why do we
use a multidirectional web? - Answers Definition: when multiple core imbalances lead to one
disease/condition AND/OR one core imbalance leads to multiple diseases/conditions
• Core imbalances can influence many different body functions and systems
• Sometimes there is no core imbalance, but there are several biochemical pathways that are off
-center and affect health.
Core Imbalances - Answers ADEBCTS (1) Assimilation (2) Defense and repair (3) energy (4)
biotransformation (5) communication (6) transport (7) structural integrity
State the characteristics and explain the importance of health as a positive vitality - Answers
state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity
State the characteristics and explain the importance of promotion of organ reserve - Answers -
Definition: difference between the maximal function of a vital organ and the level of function
required to maintain an individual's daily life
-i.e. "reserve power" - ability to go above & beyond what is required
-declines with stress (medications, toxins), aging, and illness
-most sig changes occur in heart, lungs, and kidney
Identify the similarities between functional medicine and conventional Western medicine -
Answers
Identify the differences between functional medicine and conventional Western medicine -
Answers · Root causes vs symptoms of the disease.
· Patient-centered as opposed to disease-centered.
,· Preventive: treats the disease at an early stage instead of at a later stage when the disease
requires clinical intervention.
· Emphasizes that diseases are caused by altered physiological processes (root causes) and
imbalanced bodily systems (core imbalances).
Analyses the patient's story, signs, symptoms, and laboratory results instead of matching
diagnosis with drug/hardware interventions
· Describe and clarify scenarios when one type of healthcare might be more appropriate and
beneficial to the patient - Answers i. For acute conditions (e.g., a heart attack, a broken leg,
appendicitis, a sudden lung infection, etc.), you need CM with its life-saving technology, surgery,
and antibiotics.
ii. For chronic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, IBS, neurological disorders,
musculoskeletal disorders, autoimmune diseases, obesity, & certain types of cancers), FM
might be an effective approach.
· Explain the importance of gather - Answers -Information through intake forms, questionnaires,
the initial consultation, physical exam, and objective data.
-A detailed functional medicine history taken appropriate to age, gender, and nature of
presenting problems.
-ABCDs (Anthropometrics, Biomarkers, clinical indicators, diet and lifestyle assessment)
-Form ex: Medical symptom questionnaire (MSQ) • Diet and lifestyle assessments (e.g., sleep
questionnaire; exercise history; diet, nutrition, and lifestyle; depression, anxiety, and stress
scales; adult (or child) toxin exposure questionnaire; life stress questionnaire; environmental
sensitivity questionnaire, FM timeline
Explain the importance of organize - Answers the subjective and objective details from the
patient's story within the functional medicine paradigm. Positioning the patient's presenting
signs and symptoms, along with the details of the case history on the timeline
-Put timeline into FM matrix (ATM), modifiable personal lifestyle factor, and retelling pt's
story/ATMs
Explain the importance of tell - Answers Tell the story back to the patient in your own words to
ensure accuracy and understanding. The re-telling of the patient's story is a dialogue about the
case highlights including the antecedents, triggers, and mediators identified in the history,
correlating them to the timeline and matrix. The patient is asked to join in correcting and
amplifying the story.
Explain the Importance of Order - Answers -order and prioritize the patient's information:
, -1) Acknowledge patient's goals. 2) Address modifiable lifestyle factors. 3) What are the
insufficiencies/excesses?
-Identify core imbalances or disruptions on FM matrix.
Root Causes of Disease - Answers -Toxins (biologic, elemental, synthetic)
-Allergens (food, mold, dust, animal products, pollen, chemicals)
-Microbes (bacteria, ticks, yeast, parasites, prions)
-Stress (physical, psychological)
-Poor diet (SAD-Standard American Diet)
Explain the importance of initiate/intervene - Answers Therapeutic interventions
-phytonutrient spectrum of foods, elimination diet, cardiometabolic food plan, GI specific plans,
detox food plan, energy food plan, sleep, meditation,
·Explain the importance of track - Answers assessments, note the effectiveness of therapeutic
approaches, and identify clinical outcomes at each visit —in partnership with the patient.
-MSQ, ABCDs,
Assimilation - Answers -digestion, absorption, microbiota/GI respiration
*Produces ¾ of the neurotransmitters. *✓Contains 2/3+ of the immune cells. *✓Contains 10x
more cells than the rest of the body combined.
*✓Houses a genome 100x greater than the human genome.
*✓Has a metabolic activity greater than that of the liver.
Defense and Repair - Answers
Energy - Answers
Biotransformation - Answers
Communication - Answers
Transport - Answers
Structural integrity - Answers
ID methods of assessing/determining core imbalances
--> Summarize and explain the components of the functional medicine matrix - Answers
