NR283
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following would be the most likely cause of an iatrogenic disease?
a. An inherited disorder
b. A combination of specific etiological factors
c. An unwanted effect of a prescribed drug
d. Prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment - ANSWER-c. An unwanted effect
of a prescribed drug
2. The manifestations of a disease are best defined as the:
a. subjective feelings of discomfort during a chronic illness.
b. signs and symptoms of a disease.
c. factors that precipitate an acute episode of a chronic illness.
d. early indicators of the prodromal stage of infection. - ANSWER-b. signs and symptoms of a
disease
3. The best definition of the term prognosis is the:
a. precipitating factors causing an acute episode.
b. number of remissions to be expected during the course of a chronic illness.
c. predicted outcome or likelihood of recovery from a specific disease.
d. exacerbations occurring during chronic illness. - ANSWER-c. predicted outcome or likelihood
of recovery from a specific disease.
4. Which of the following is considered a systemic sign of disease?
a. Swelling of the knee
b. Fever
c. Pain in the neck
d. Red rash on the face - ANSWER-b. Fever
5. Etiology is defined as the study of the:
,a. causes of a disease.
b. course of a disease.
c. expected complications of a disease.
d. manifestations of a disease. - ANSWER-a. causes of a disease.
6. A type of cellular adaptation in which there is a decrease in cell size is referred to as:
a. hypertrophy.
b. metaplasia.
c. anaplasia.
d. atrophy. - ANSWER-d. atrophy.
7. A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary in size and shape and show increased mitotic
figures would be called:
a. metaplasia.
b. atrophy.
c. dysplasia.
d. hypertrophy. - ANSWER-c. dysplasia.
8. A deficit of oxygen in the cells usually due to respiratory or circulatory problems is called:
a. apoptosis.
b. ischemia.
c. hypertrophy.
d. necrosis. - ANSWER-b. ischemia
9. When a group of cells in the body dies, the change is called:
a. ischemia.
b. gangrene.
c. hypoxia.
d. necrosis. - ANSWER-d. necrosis
10. Rigorous weight lifting/body building regimens may result in the skeletal muscle cells
undergoing:
,a. hypertrophy.
b. dysplasia.
c. atrophy.
d. regeneration. - ANSWER-a. hypertrophy
11. The term cancer refers to:
a. dysplasia.
b. hyperplasia.
c. metaplasia.
d. malignant neoplasm. - ANSWER-d. malignant neoplasm.
12. To which of the following does the term apoptosis refer?
a. Increased rate of mitosis by certain cells
b. Ischemic damage to cells
c. Liquefaction of necrotic tissue
d. Preprogrammed cell self-destruction - ANSWER-d. Preprogrammed cell self-destruction
13. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
a. Alteration of DNA does not change cell function.
b. Damaged cells may be able to repair themselves.
c. All types of cells die at the same rate.
d. Mild ischemia causes immediate cell death. - ANSWER-b. Damaged cells may be able to
repair themselves.
14. Caseation necrosis refers to an area where:
a. cell proteins have been denatured.
b. cell are liquefied by enzymes.
c. dead cells form a thick cheesy substance.
d. bacterial invasion has occurred. - ANSWER-c. dead cells form a thick cheesy substance
15. Routine application of sun block to skin would be an example of:
, a. an iatrogenic cause of cancer.
b. a preventive measure.
c. a precipitating factor.
d. a predisposing condition. - ANSWER-b. a preventive measure.
16. A circumstance that causes a sudden acute episode of a chronic disease to occur is termed:
a. latent stage.
b. predisposing factor.
c. incidence.
d. precipitating factor. - ANSWER-d. precipitating factor.
17. The term homeostasis refers to:
a. the causative factors in a particular disease.
b. maintenance of a stable internal environment.
c. a condition that triggers an acute episode.
d. a collection of signs and symptoms. - ANSWER-b. maintenance of a stable internal
environment.
18. Which term is used to describe a new and secondary or additional problem that arises after
the original disease has been established?
a. Symptoms
b. Occurrence
c. Manifestations
d. Complication - ANSWER-d. Complication
19. Pathophysiology involves the study of:
a. the structure of the human body.
b. the functions of various organs in the body.
c. functional or structural changes resulting from disease processes.
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following would be the most likely cause of an iatrogenic disease?
a. An inherited disorder
b. A combination of specific etiological factors
c. An unwanted effect of a prescribed drug
d. Prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment - ANSWER-c. An unwanted effect
of a prescribed drug
2. The manifestations of a disease are best defined as the:
a. subjective feelings of discomfort during a chronic illness.
b. signs and symptoms of a disease.
c. factors that precipitate an acute episode of a chronic illness.
d. early indicators of the prodromal stage of infection. - ANSWER-b. signs and symptoms of a
disease
3. The best definition of the term prognosis is the:
a. precipitating factors causing an acute episode.
b. number of remissions to be expected during the course of a chronic illness.
c. predicted outcome or likelihood of recovery from a specific disease.
d. exacerbations occurring during chronic illness. - ANSWER-c. predicted outcome or likelihood
of recovery from a specific disease.
4. Which of the following is considered a systemic sign of disease?
a. Swelling of the knee
b. Fever
c. Pain in the neck
d. Red rash on the face - ANSWER-b. Fever
5. Etiology is defined as the study of the:
,a. causes of a disease.
b. course of a disease.
c. expected complications of a disease.
d. manifestations of a disease. - ANSWER-a. causes of a disease.
6. A type of cellular adaptation in which there is a decrease in cell size is referred to as:
a. hypertrophy.
b. metaplasia.
c. anaplasia.
d. atrophy. - ANSWER-d. atrophy.
7. A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary in size and shape and show increased mitotic
figures would be called:
a. metaplasia.
b. atrophy.
c. dysplasia.
d. hypertrophy. - ANSWER-c. dysplasia.
8. A deficit of oxygen in the cells usually due to respiratory or circulatory problems is called:
a. apoptosis.
b. ischemia.
c. hypertrophy.
d. necrosis. - ANSWER-b. ischemia
9. When a group of cells in the body dies, the change is called:
a. ischemia.
b. gangrene.
c. hypoxia.
d. necrosis. - ANSWER-d. necrosis
10. Rigorous weight lifting/body building regimens may result in the skeletal muscle cells
undergoing:
,a. hypertrophy.
b. dysplasia.
c. atrophy.
d. regeneration. - ANSWER-a. hypertrophy
11. The term cancer refers to:
a. dysplasia.
b. hyperplasia.
c. metaplasia.
d. malignant neoplasm. - ANSWER-d. malignant neoplasm.
12. To which of the following does the term apoptosis refer?
a. Increased rate of mitosis by certain cells
b. Ischemic damage to cells
c. Liquefaction of necrotic tissue
d. Preprogrammed cell self-destruction - ANSWER-d. Preprogrammed cell self-destruction
13. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
a. Alteration of DNA does not change cell function.
b. Damaged cells may be able to repair themselves.
c. All types of cells die at the same rate.
d. Mild ischemia causes immediate cell death. - ANSWER-b. Damaged cells may be able to
repair themselves.
14. Caseation necrosis refers to an area where:
a. cell proteins have been denatured.
b. cell are liquefied by enzymes.
c. dead cells form a thick cheesy substance.
d. bacterial invasion has occurred. - ANSWER-c. dead cells form a thick cheesy substance
15. Routine application of sun block to skin would be an example of:
, a. an iatrogenic cause of cancer.
b. a preventive measure.
c. a precipitating factor.
d. a predisposing condition. - ANSWER-b. a preventive measure.
16. A circumstance that causes a sudden acute episode of a chronic disease to occur is termed:
a. latent stage.
b. predisposing factor.
c. incidence.
d. precipitating factor. - ANSWER-d. precipitating factor.
17. The term homeostasis refers to:
a. the causative factors in a particular disease.
b. maintenance of a stable internal environment.
c. a condition that triggers an acute episode.
d. a collection of signs and symptoms. - ANSWER-b. maintenance of a stable internal
environment.
18. Which term is used to describe a new and secondary or additional problem that arises after
the original disease has been established?
a. Symptoms
b. Occurrence
c. Manifestations
d. Complication - ANSWER-d. Complication
19. Pathophysiology involves the study of:
a. the structure of the human body.
b. the functions of various organs in the body.
c. functional or structural changes resulting from disease processes.
