Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to
Clinical Medicine
8th Edition
Author(s)Gary D. Hammer; Stephen J. McPhee
TEST BANK
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem: A 28-year-old woman presents
with intermittent palpitations and fatigue. Her
lab tests are normal, but she reports symptoms
only during heavy exertion. Which concept
,from pathophysiology best explains why the
same physiologic stress produces symptoms in
this patient now but did not when she was
sedentary?
Options:
A. Homeostatic reserve depletion
B. Latent genetic predisposition
C. Disease incidence increase
D. Compensatory hyperplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationales — Correct: Homeostatic reserve
depletion explains that physiologic systems
tolerate stress until adaptive capacity (reserve)
is exceeded, producing symptoms during
increased demand. This concept links clinical
presentation to loss of adaptive capacity
described in the introductory framework.
Rationales — Incorrect: B — Latent genetic
predisposition may influence disease risk but
does not specifically explain symptom
,emergence with increased exertion.
C — Incidence refers to new cases in a
population and is not a mechanistic explanation
for individual symptom onset.
D — Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive
tissue response and does not explain system-
level failure under stress.
Teaching Point: Symptoms appear when
adaptive reserve is exceeded.
Citation: Hammer & McPhee (2021).
Pathophysiology of Disease (8th Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem: During a clinical case review the
team emphasizes primary, secondary, and
tertiary prevention. A screening program
intended to detect asymptomatic early-stage
disease fits which prevention level and why?
Options:
A. Primary prevention — prevents disease
, before it occurs
B. Secondary prevention — detects disease
early to reduce morbidity
C. Tertiary prevention — rehabilitates after
advanced disease
D. Quaternary prevention — avoids medical
overuse
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Secondary prevention
includes screening to detect preclinical or early
disease so interventions can reduce progression
and morbidity, aligning with the screening
program described.
Rationales — Incorrect: A — Primary prevention
aims to prevent initial disease development
(e.g., vaccination), not screening.
C — Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing
disability after established disease, not early
detection.
D — Quaternary prevention concerns avoiding
Clinical Medicine
8th Edition
Author(s)Gary D. Hammer; Stephen J. McPhee
TEST BANK
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem: A 28-year-old woman presents
with intermittent palpitations and fatigue. Her
lab tests are normal, but she reports symptoms
only during heavy exertion. Which concept
,from pathophysiology best explains why the
same physiologic stress produces symptoms in
this patient now but did not when she was
sedentary?
Options:
A. Homeostatic reserve depletion
B. Latent genetic predisposition
C. Disease incidence increase
D. Compensatory hyperplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationales — Correct: Homeostatic reserve
depletion explains that physiologic systems
tolerate stress until adaptive capacity (reserve)
is exceeded, producing symptoms during
increased demand. This concept links clinical
presentation to loss of adaptive capacity
described in the introductory framework.
Rationales — Incorrect: B — Latent genetic
predisposition may influence disease risk but
does not specifically explain symptom
,emergence with increased exertion.
C — Incidence refers to new cases in a
population and is not a mechanistic explanation
for individual symptom onset.
D — Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive
tissue response and does not explain system-
level failure under stress.
Teaching Point: Symptoms appear when
adaptive reserve is exceeded.
Citation: Hammer & McPhee (2021).
Pathophysiology of Disease (8th Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem: During a clinical case review the
team emphasizes primary, secondary, and
tertiary prevention. A screening program
intended to detect asymptomatic early-stage
disease fits which prevention level and why?
Options:
A. Primary prevention — prevents disease
, before it occurs
B. Secondary prevention — detects disease
early to reduce morbidity
C. Tertiary prevention — rehabilitates after
advanced disease
D. Quaternary prevention — avoids medical
overuse
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Secondary prevention
includes screening to detect preclinical or early
disease so interventions can reduce progression
and morbidity, aligning with the screening
program described.
Rationales — Incorrect: A — Primary prevention
aims to prevent initial disease development
(e.g., vaccination), not screening.
C — Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing
disability after established disease, not early
detection.
D — Quaternary prevention concerns avoiding
