PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NURS 231 MODULE 1 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question 1
pts
What is the definition of “pathophysiology”?
Your Answer:
The study of the body's responses to changes caused by a disease
Pathophysiology is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease,
but also the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Question 2
pts
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Your Answer:
Biologic agents -- bacteria, viruses
Physical forces -- trauma, burns
Genetic inheritance
Chemical agents -- alcohol, drug toxicities
Nutritional excesses or deficiencies
Biologic agents (bacteria, viruses), physical forces (trauma, burns, radiation), chemical agents
(poisons, alcohol), one’s genetic inheritance, and nutritional excesses or deficiencies.
Question 3
pts
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
Your Answer:
Congenital conditions -- present at birth
Acquired defects -- after birth
Risk factors can be categorized as congenital conditions (present at birth) or acquired defects
(occurring after birth).
Question 4
pts
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
Your Answer:
, Morphology is the structure or form of cells and tissues
Histology is the study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues
Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the
study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Question 5
pts
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
Your Answer:
Sign is an objective manifestation -- temperature or changes in pupil size
Symptoms is a subjective complaint -- pain, dizziness or troubled
breathing
A symptom is a subjective complaint, for example pain, trouble breathing, or dizziness. A sign is
an objective manifestation, for example an elevated temperature, a swollen extremity, or
changes in pupil size.
Question 6
pts
What are 3 important processes when coming to a
diagnosis? Your Answer:
Family history, physical examination, diagnostic tests
The diagnostic process requires a careful history, physical examination (PE), and sometimes
diagnostic tests.
Question 7
pts
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Your Answer:
Validity is how a tool measures what it is intended to
measure Reliability is how likely the same result will occur if
repeated
Sensitivity is the proportion of people with a disease who are positive for that disease
Specificity is when people without the disease are tested negative on a given test
Validity is how a tool measures what it is intended to measure. Reliability is how likely the same
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question 1
pts
What is the definition of “pathophysiology”?
Your Answer:
The study of the body's responses to changes caused by a disease
Pathophysiology is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease,
but also the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Question 2
pts
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Your Answer:
Biologic agents -- bacteria, viruses
Physical forces -- trauma, burns
Genetic inheritance
Chemical agents -- alcohol, drug toxicities
Nutritional excesses or deficiencies
Biologic agents (bacteria, viruses), physical forces (trauma, burns, radiation), chemical agents
(poisons, alcohol), one’s genetic inheritance, and nutritional excesses or deficiencies.
Question 3
pts
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
Your Answer:
Congenital conditions -- present at birth
Acquired defects -- after birth
Risk factors can be categorized as congenital conditions (present at birth) or acquired defects
(occurring after birth).
Question 4
pts
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
Your Answer:
, Morphology is the structure or form of cells and tissues
Histology is the study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues
Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the
study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Question 5
pts
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
Your Answer:
Sign is an objective manifestation -- temperature or changes in pupil size
Symptoms is a subjective complaint -- pain, dizziness or troubled
breathing
A symptom is a subjective complaint, for example pain, trouble breathing, or dizziness. A sign is
an objective manifestation, for example an elevated temperature, a swollen extremity, or
changes in pupil size.
Question 6
pts
What are 3 important processes when coming to a
diagnosis? Your Answer:
Family history, physical examination, diagnostic tests
The diagnostic process requires a careful history, physical examination (PE), and sometimes
diagnostic tests.
Question 7
pts
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Your Answer:
Validity is how a tool measures what it is intended to
measure Reliability is how likely the same result will occur if
repeated
Sensitivity is the proportion of people with a disease who are positive for that disease
Specificity is when people without the disease are tested negative on a given test
Validity is how a tool measures what it is intended to measure. Reliability is how likely the same
