NURS 231 Pathophysiology All Module
Exams (GRADED A+) Questions and
Answers- Portage Learning
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.
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"?
Biologic agents (bacteria, viruses), physical forces (trauma, burns, radiation),
chemical agents (poisons, alcohol), one’s genetic inheritance, and nutritional
excesses or deficiencies.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Risk factors can be categorized as congenital conditions (present at birth)
or acquired defects (occurring after birth).
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
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.
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
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.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
The diagnostic process requires a careful history, physical examination (PE),
and sometimes diagnostic tests.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis?
1
,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 are people
without the disease who are negative on a given test.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in human populations. It
tracks age, race, dietary habits, lifestyle, or geographic location.
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks.
Incidence is the number of new cases in a population at risk during a specified
time. Prevalence is the number of people with the disease in a population in a
given time.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Morbidity is the effect of an illness on one’s life. Mortality statistics deal with
the cause of death in a population.
Define mortality and morbidity.
Primary prevention is to remove risk factors to prevent disease from
occurring- taking folic acid while pregnant to prevent neural tube defects,
vaccinating children to prevent communicable disease, eating healthy and
exercising to prevent heart disease, and wearing seatbelts or
helmets. Secondary prevention aims to detect and treat disease early, usually
while the disease is asymptomatic and curable- annual Pap smears to detect
early cervical cancer, encouraging smoking cessation, checking blood pressure
and cholesterol, and colonoscopy screening. Tertiary prevention occurs after a
disease has been diagnosed and clinical intervention is needed to reduce
complications or deterioration- certain medications one must take after a
heart attack to help reduce the risk of a future event or death.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each.
Evidence-based practice is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of
current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual
2
,patients. This is to counteract “the way things have always been done,” and to
practice based on clinical research.
Why is evidence-based practice important?
All eukaryotic cells have three primary structures that are considered the
functional components of the cell. These are the nucleus, the cytoplasm, and
the plasma membrane.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell?
The nucleus is the control center for the cell and contains most of the
hereditary material, DNA and RNA.
What is the function of the nucleus?
Chromatin, nucleolus, and nuclear envelope
Name 3 structures within the nucleus.
The organelles in the cytoplasm include the ribosomes, ER, Golgi complex,
mitochondria, and lysosomes.
What organelles are located in the cytoplasm?
The ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. The Rough ER has
ribosomes and functions to synthesize lysosomal enzymes. The smooth
ER does not have ribosomes and is the site for lipid, lipoprotein, and steroid
hormone synthesis.
What are the roles of the ribosomes, rough ER, and smooth ER?
Lysosomes are the digestive system of the cell. Peroxisomes are smaller than
lysosomes and function in the control of free radicals. The mitochondria are
aptly termed the “power plants” of the cell, as they transform organic
compounds (energy in food) into cellular energy for the cell.
What is the function of the lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria?
The cytoskeleton contains a network of microtubules, microfilaments,
intermediate filaments, and thick filaments. They control cell shape and
movement.
3
, What is contained in the cytoskeleton and what is its function?
Cilia can be found on many epithelial linings, including the nasal sinuses and
bronchi in the upper respiratory system. In the human body, only
spermatozoa contain flagella.
Give examples of where cilia and flagella are found in the human body.
The cell membrane controls the transport of materials from the outside fluids
to within, binds hormone receptors, helps with the conduction of electrical
currents in nerve and muscle cells, and aids in the regulation of cell growth
and proliferation.
What are the 4 functions of the cell membrane?
In complex organisms, cells develop special functions, contribute to growth,
and adapt to changes. Cells must have the ability to communicate with one
another, transport substances in and out, and respond to these changes.
Why do cells need to communicate with one another?
Autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and synaptic signaling
Name the 4 types of cell signaling.
Every cell has a distinct set of surface receptors that allow it to respond to
signaling molecules in a specific way. These proteins can increase or decrease
in number according to the needs of the cell. When there are too many
chemical messengers present, the number of active receptors decreases in a
process called down-regulation. When the messengers are lacking, the number
of active receptors increases through up-regulation.
Know the process of up and down regulation.
G-protein-linked receptors - largest number, on/off switch, outside of cell
Enzyme linked - bind outside of cell, activates associated domain with enzyme
activity
ion-channel linked - nerve and muscle cells, open/close ion channels
Understand the 3 types of receptor proteins.
4
Exams (GRADED A+) Questions and
Answers- Portage Learning
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.
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"?
Biologic agents (bacteria, viruses), physical forces (trauma, burns, radiation),
chemical agents (poisons, alcohol), one’s genetic inheritance, and nutritional
excesses or deficiencies.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed.
Risk factors can be categorized as congenital conditions (present at birth)
or acquired defects (occurring after birth).
What are the 2 types of risk factors?
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.
What is the difference between morphology and histology?
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.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
The diagnostic process requires a careful history, physical examination (PE),
and sometimes diagnostic tests.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis?
1
,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 are people
without the disease who are negative on a given test.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.
Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence in human populations. It
tracks age, race, dietary habits, lifestyle, or geographic location.
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks.
Incidence is the number of new cases in a population at risk during a specified
time. Prevalence is the number of people with the disease in a population in a
given time.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Morbidity is the effect of an illness on one’s life. Mortality statistics deal with
the cause of death in a population.
Define mortality and morbidity.
Primary prevention is to remove risk factors to prevent disease from
occurring- taking folic acid while pregnant to prevent neural tube defects,
vaccinating children to prevent communicable disease, eating healthy and
exercising to prevent heart disease, and wearing seatbelts or
helmets. Secondary prevention aims to detect and treat disease early, usually
while the disease is asymptomatic and curable- annual Pap smears to detect
early cervical cancer, encouraging smoking cessation, checking blood pressure
and cholesterol, and colonoscopy screening. Tertiary prevention occurs after a
disease has been diagnosed and clinical intervention is needed to reduce
complications or deterioration- certain medications one must take after a
heart attack to help reduce the risk of a future event or death.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each.
Evidence-based practice is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of
current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual
2
,patients. This is to counteract “the way things have always been done,” and to
practice based on clinical research.
Why is evidence-based practice important?
All eukaryotic cells have three primary structures that are considered the
functional components of the cell. These are the nucleus, the cytoplasm, and
the plasma membrane.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell?
The nucleus is the control center for the cell and contains most of the
hereditary material, DNA and RNA.
What is the function of the nucleus?
Chromatin, nucleolus, and nuclear envelope
Name 3 structures within the nucleus.
The organelles in the cytoplasm include the ribosomes, ER, Golgi complex,
mitochondria, and lysosomes.
What organelles are located in the cytoplasm?
The ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. The Rough ER has
ribosomes and functions to synthesize lysosomal enzymes. The smooth
ER does not have ribosomes and is the site for lipid, lipoprotein, and steroid
hormone synthesis.
What are the roles of the ribosomes, rough ER, and smooth ER?
Lysosomes are the digestive system of the cell. Peroxisomes are smaller than
lysosomes and function in the control of free radicals. The mitochondria are
aptly termed the “power plants” of the cell, as they transform organic
compounds (energy in food) into cellular energy for the cell.
What is the function of the lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria?
The cytoskeleton contains a network of microtubules, microfilaments,
intermediate filaments, and thick filaments. They control cell shape and
movement.
3
, What is contained in the cytoskeleton and what is its function?
Cilia can be found on many epithelial linings, including the nasal sinuses and
bronchi in the upper respiratory system. In the human body, only
spermatozoa contain flagella.
Give examples of where cilia and flagella are found in the human body.
The cell membrane controls the transport of materials from the outside fluids
to within, binds hormone receptors, helps with the conduction of electrical
currents in nerve and muscle cells, and aids in the regulation of cell growth
and proliferation.
What are the 4 functions of the cell membrane?
In complex organisms, cells develop special functions, contribute to growth,
and adapt to changes. Cells must have the ability to communicate with one
another, transport substances in and out, and respond to these changes.
Why do cells need to communicate with one another?
Autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and synaptic signaling
Name the 4 types of cell signaling.
Every cell has a distinct set of surface receptors that allow it to respond to
signaling molecules in a specific way. These proteins can increase or decrease
in number according to the needs of the cell. When there are too many
chemical messengers present, the number of active receptors decreases in a
process called down-regulation. When the messengers are lacking, the number
of active receptors increases through up-regulation.
Know the process of up and down regulation.
G-protein-linked receptors - largest number, on/off switch, outside of cell
Enzyme linked - bind outside of cell, activates associated domain with enzyme
activity
ion-channel linked - nerve and muscle cells, open/close ion channels
Understand the 3 types of receptor proteins.
4
