Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to
Clinical Medicine
8th Edition
Author(s)Gary D. Hammer; Stephen J. McPhee
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 58-year-old man develops progressive dyspnea and peripheral
edema over 3 months. Which element of the pathophysiology
framework best explains why similar myocardial injuries can
produce variable clinical outcomes among different patients?
Options
A. The principle of homeostasis maintenance by negative
feedback
B. Differences in host susceptibility and reserve (biologic
variability)
,C. Identical genotypic responses producing uniform phenotypes
D. The presence of a single, dominant environmental trigger
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct: Biological variability (differences in host
susceptibility, physiologic reserve, comorbidities) explains
why identical injuries produce different clinical trajectories;
this concept frames individualized pathophysiologic
responses.
• A incorrect: Negative feedback maintains stability but does
not account for interindividual outcome variability after
injury.
• C incorrect: Genotype rarely produces uniform phenotype;
phenotype is modified by environment and other factors.
• D incorrect: A single environmental trigger oversimplifies
multifactorial determinants of disease expression.
Teaching Point
Host susceptibility and physiologic reserve shape individual
disease outcomes.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2019). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
During triage a nurse must decide whether a patient’s acute lab
abnormality reflects disease or normal physiologic variation.
Which concept from pathophysiology most directly helps
interpret abnormal lab values in context?
Options
A. Natural history of disease stages
B. Reference ranges derived from population distributions
C. Universal thresholds that apply to every patient equally
D. Single-cause causation model
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct: Reference ranges are population-derived
distributions that help clinicians interpret lab values
relative to expected variation.
• A incorrect: Natural history is useful for prognosis but less
direct for interpreting a single lab result.
• C incorrect: There are no universal thresholds that apply
equally to every patient; thresholds may be age- or
context-dependent.
, • D incorrect: Most lab abnormalities reflect multifactorial
processes rather than single-cause models.
Teaching Point
Interpret labs using population reference ranges and patient
context.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2019). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A clinical team plans a new process to reduce iatrogenic harm
from medication errors. Which pathophysiologic principle
should guide system redesign to reduce adverse outcomes?
Options
A. Eliminate all physiologic variability among patients
B. Design redundancy and safety nets that interrupt causal
chains of harm
C. Rely on individual memory and vigilance as the primary
defense
D. Assume adverse events are unpredictable and unavoidable
Clinical Medicine
8th Edition
Author(s)Gary D. Hammer; Stephen J. McPhee
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 58-year-old man develops progressive dyspnea and peripheral
edema over 3 months. Which element of the pathophysiology
framework best explains why similar myocardial injuries can
produce variable clinical outcomes among different patients?
Options
A. The principle of homeostasis maintenance by negative
feedback
B. Differences in host susceptibility and reserve (biologic
variability)
,C. Identical genotypic responses producing uniform phenotypes
D. The presence of a single, dominant environmental trigger
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct: Biological variability (differences in host
susceptibility, physiologic reserve, comorbidities) explains
why identical injuries produce different clinical trajectories;
this concept frames individualized pathophysiologic
responses.
• A incorrect: Negative feedback maintains stability but does
not account for interindividual outcome variability after
injury.
• C incorrect: Genotype rarely produces uniform phenotype;
phenotype is modified by environment and other factors.
• D incorrect: A single environmental trigger oversimplifies
multifactorial determinants of disease expression.
Teaching Point
Host susceptibility and physiologic reserve shape individual
disease outcomes.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2019). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
During triage a nurse must decide whether a patient’s acute lab
abnormality reflects disease or normal physiologic variation.
Which concept from pathophysiology most directly helps
interpret abnormal lab values in context?
Options
A. Natural history of disease stages
B. Reference ranges derived from population distributions
C. Universal thresholds that apply to every patient equally
D. Single-cause causation model
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct: Reference ranges are population-derived
distributions that help clinicians interpret lab values
relative to expected variation.
• A incorrect: Natural history is useful for prognosis but less
direct for interpreting a single lab result.
• C incorrect: There are no universal thresholds that apply
equally to every patient; thresholds may be age- or
context-dependent.
, • D incorrect: Most lab abnormalities reflect multifactorial
processes rather than single-cause models.
Teaching Point
Interpret labs using population reference ranges and patient
context.
Citation (Simplified APA)
Hammer & McPhee (2019). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A clinical team plans a new process to reduce iatrogenic harm
from medication errors. Which pathophysiologic principle
should guide system redesign to reduce adverse outcomes?
Options
A. Eliminate all physiologic variability among patients
B. Design redundancy and safety nets that interrupt causal
chains of harm
C. Rely on individual memory and vigilance as the primary
defense
D. Assume adverse events are unpredictable and unavoidable
