GOULD'S PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR THE
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KARIN C. VANMETER;
ROBERT J. HUBERT
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Definition and
Scope
Stem
A 22-year-old nursing student is asked to explain how
pathophysiology differs from pathology in a class presentation.
She correctly states that pathophysiology most directly focuses
on which of the following? Apply your understanding of the
discipline’s purpose to choose the best response.
A. Structural changes in tissues visible on biopsy specimens.
B. Functional and physiologic changes produced by disease
,processes.
C. The statistical distribution and determinants of disease in
populations.
D. Procedures used to treat and cure disease.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
Pathophysiology emphasizes the functional and physiological
alterations that occur when homeostasis is disturbed by
disease; it links normal physiology to the abnormal processes
that produce signs and symptoms. Gould frames the subject as
explanation of mechanisms producing clinical manifestations
rather than purely structural description.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Pathology emphasizes structural changes; it is related but
distinct from pathophysiology.
C. Epidemiology studies distribution/determinants in
populations, not the physiologic mechanisms of disease.
D. Therapeutics and clinical procedures are downstream
responses, not the primary focus of pathophysiology.
Teaching point:
Pathophysiology explains how disease alters function, not just
structure.
Citation (Simplified APA):
VanMeter, K. C., & Hubert, R. J. (2024). Gould’s Pathophysiology
for the Health Professions (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Etiology and
Predisposing Factors
Stem
A patient develops cirrhosis after decades of alcohol misuse.
When constructing a pathophysiology explanation, which term
best describes alcohol in relation to the disease, and how does
it fit into mechanistic reasoning?
A. Pathogenesis — the molecular mechanism by which
hepatocytes transform.
B. Etiology — the causal factor initiating cellular injury leading
to disease.
C. Prognosis — the expected clinical outcome from continued
exposure.
D. Epidemiology — the distribution of alcoholic liver disease
across populations.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
Etiology denotes the cause(s) of disease. In mechanistic
reasoning, identifying the etiologic agent (alcohol) is the first
step that leads to cellular injury, maladaptive responses, and
eventual organ dysfunction. Gould emphasizes linking cause to
pathogenesis.
, Rationale — Incorrect
A. Pathogenesis describes the sequence of cellular/biochemical
events following the etiologic insult, not the etiologic factor
itself.
C. Prognosis is a prediction about outcome, not the causal
agent.
D. Epidemiology pertains to population-level patterns, not the
individual causal factor.
Teaching point:
Etiology = cause; pathogenesis = sequence of mechanisms from
cause to manifestation.
Citation (Simplified APA):
VanMeter, K. C., & Hubert, R. J. (2024). Gould’s Pathophysiology
for the Health Professions (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Pathogenesis
Stem
A clinician explains that a myocardial infarction (MI) results
from a sequence beginning with coronary atherosclerotic
plaque rupture, thrombosis, ischemia, cellular ATP depletion,
and finally cell death. Which part of this chain is best labeled
“pathogenesis,” and why is that labeling correct?
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KARIN C. VANMETER;
ROBERT J. HUBERT
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Definition and
Scope
Stem
A 22-year-old nursing student is asked to explain how
pathophysiology differs from pathology in a class presentation.
She correctly states that pathophysiology most directly focuses
on which of the following? Apply your understanding of the
discipline’s purpose to choose the best response.
A. Structural changes in tissues visible on biopsy specimens.
B. Functional and physiologic changes produced by disease
,processes.
C. The statistical distribution and determinants of disease in
populations.
D. Procedures used to treat and cure disease.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
Pathophysiology emphasizes the functional and physiological
alterations that occur when homeostasis is disturbed by
disease; it links normal physiology to the abnormal processes
that produce signs and symptoms. Gould frames the subject as
explanation of mechanisms producing clinical manifestations
rather than purely structural description.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Pathology emphasizes structural changes; it is related but
distinct from pathophysiology.
C. Epidemiology studies distribution/determinants in
populations, not the physiologic mechanisms of disease.
D. Therapeutics and clinical procedures are downstream
responses, not the primary focus of pathophysiology.
Teaching point:
Pathophysiology explains how disease alters function, not just
structure.
Citation (Simplified APA):
VanMeter, K. C., & Hubert, R. J. (2024). Gould’s Pathophysiology
for the Health Professions (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Etiology and
Predisposing Factors
Stem
A patient develops cirrhosis after decades of alcohol misuse.
When constructing a pathophysiology explanation, which term
best describes alcohol in relation to the disease, and how does
it fit into mechanistic reasoning?
A. Pathogenesis — the molecular mechanism by which
hepatocytes transform.
B. Etiology — the causal factor initiating cellular injury leading
to disease.
C. Prognosis — the expected clinical outcome from continued
exposure.
D. Epidemiology — the distribution of alcoholic liver disease
across populations.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
Etiology denotes the cause(s) of disease. In mechanistic
reasoning, identifying the etiologic agent (alcohol) is the first
step that leads to cellular injury, maladaptive responses, and
eventual organ dysfunction. Gould emphasizes linking cause to
pathogenesis.
, Rationale — Incorrect
A. Pathogenesis describes the sequence of cellular/biochemical
events following the etiologic insult, not the etiologic factor
itself.
C. Prognosis is a prediction about outcome, not the causal
agent.
D. Epidemiology pertains to population-level patterns, not the
individual causal factor.
Teaching point:
Etiology = cause; pathogenesis = sequence of mechanisms from
cause to manifestation.
Citation (Simplified APA):
VanMeter, K. C., & Hubert, R. J. (2024). Gould’s Pathophysiology
for the Health Professions (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Pathophysiology — Pathogenesis
Stem
A clinician explains that a myocardial infarction (MI) results
from a sequence beginning with coronary atherosclerotic
plaque rupture, thrombosis, ischemia, cellular ATP depletion,
and finally cell death. Which part of this chain is best labeled
“pathogenesis,” and why is that labeling correct?
