NS 838/NRS 838 Advanced Pathophysiology course-
nursing class at Clarkson College Exam
*Chapter 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology* - answer
Risk - answerFactor that when present increases the chance of disease
Not stressors, but conditions or situations that increase the likelihood of encountering a stressor
Prevalence - answerA measure of disease that allows us to determine a person's likelihood of having a
disease. Therefore, the number of prevalent cases is the total number of cases of disease existing in a
population. A prevalence rate is the total number of cases of a disease existing in a population divided
by the total population
Indicates how widespread the disease is
Incidence - answerA measure of disease that allows us to determine a person's probability of being
diagnosed with a disease during a given period of time. Therefore, incidence is the number of newly
diagnosed cases of a disease. An incidence rate is the number of new cases of a disease divided by the
number of persons at risk for the disease.
Conveys information about the risk of contracting the disease.
Ratio - answerThe quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value
contains or is contained within the other.
Primary Prevention - answerAltering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible persons
*Both illness and disease are absent
example: vaccinations, healthy lifestyles
Secondary Prevention - answerEarly detection, screening, and management of disease
*Illness absent, disease present
,example: screenings and testings
Tertiary Prevention - answerRehabilitation, supportive care, reducing disability, and restoring effective
functioning
*Both illness and disease present
example: education
Epidemiology - answerstudy of the patterns of disease involving populations; examining the occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups of populations/people
Endemic - answerA disease theat is native to a local region
Epidemic - answerWhen a disease is disseninated to many individals at the same time
(spread to many people at the same time)
Pandemic - answerEpidemics that affect large geographic regions, perhaps spreading worldwide.
(spread to large geographic areas)
*Chapter 2: Homeostasis and Adaptive Responses to Stressors* - answer
Homeostasis - answerA state of being in which all systems are in balance around a articular ideal "set-
point"
Exhausation - answerPoint where body can no longer return to homeostasis following a prolonged
exposure to noxious agents
Allostatic Overload - answer"Cost" of body's organs and tissues for an excessive or ineffectively
regulated allostatic response; effect of "wear and tear" on the body
,Adaptation - answerAdaptation: biopsychosocial process of change in response to new or altered
circumstances, internal or external in origin
Coping: behavioral adaptive response to a stressor using culturally based coping mechanisms
Adaptation and coping: terms used interchangeably
Arousal - answerIncludes alterations in responsiveness to homeostatic pressures, sensory stimuli and
emotional reactivity, and to changes in motor activity
Function of Cortisol - answerPrimary glucocorticoid
Affects protein metabolism
Promotes appetite and food-seeking behaviors
Has anti-inflammatory effects
Chemical mediator in the inflammation response of the body
Adrenal corticosteroid critical to maintenance of homeostasis
May synergize or antagonize effects of catecholamines
*Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function* - answer
Endocrine Communication - answerHormones traveling in the bloodstream
Long range signaling
Neurocrine Communication - answerNeurons firing information through synapses
Signals travel a very small distance between neuron and target cell
Paracrine Communcation - answerSignaling through the extraceullar fluid between cells in a tissue
Localized areas of communication
, Autocrine Communcation - answerLocalized signaling in which the secreting cell is also the target cell
Feedback to self
Describe an Action Potential - answerRapid, self-propagating electrical excitations of the membrane
Mediated by voltage-gated ion channels that open (sodium flows into the cell) and close in response to
voltage changes across the membrane
Triggered by membrane depolarization
Propagated by sequential opening of voltage-gated sodium channels in adjacent sections of membrane.
The action potential is regenerated in adjacent sections of membrane as more sodium channels open.
The initial segment repolarizes as sodium channels close and potassium ions move out.
Cardiac muscles: repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
*Na+* initiates the action potential
*Only cells with voltage-gated channels have action potentials (not nerve cells)*
Describe a Resting Action Potential - answerElectrical charge when there is no net ion movement across
plasma membrane
Major determinant: Ratio of Internal-to-External [K+]
This is dominated by potassium (K+)
Take Home Message About Action Potentials - answerResting Membrane Potential Dominated by K+
Upstroke of Action Potential --> Na+
Repolarization --> K+
In cardiac tissue, plateau --> Ca++
nursing class at Clarkson College Exam
*Chapter 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology* - answer
Risk - answerFactor that when present increases the chance of disease
Not stressors, but conditions or situations that increase the likelihood of encountering a stressor
Prevalence - answerA measure of disease that allows us to determine a person's likelihood of having a
disease. Therefore, the number of prevalent cases is the total number of cases of disease existing in a
population. A prevalence rate is the total number of cases of a disease existing in a population divided
by the total population
Indicates how widespread the disease is
Incidence - answerA measure of disease that allows us to determine a person's probability of being
diagnosed with a disease during a given period of time. Therefore, incidence is the number of newly
diagnosed cases of a disease. An incidence rate is the number of new cases of a disease divided by the
number of persons at risk for the disease.
Conveys information about the risk of contracting the disease.
Ratio - answerThe quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value
contains or is contained within the other.
Primary Prevention - answerAltering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible persons
*Both illness and disease are absent
example: vaccinations, healthy lifestyles
Secondary Prevention - answerEarly detection, screening, and management of disease
*Illness absent, disease present
,example: screenings and testings
Tertiary Prevention - answerRehabilitation, supportive care, reducing disability, and restoring effective
functioning
*Both illness and disease present
example: education
Epidemiology - answerstudy of the patterns of disease involving populations; examining the occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups of populations/people
Endemic - answerA disease theat is native to a local region
Epidemic - answerWhen a disease is disseninated to many individals at the same time
(spread to many people at the same time)
Pandemic - answerEpidemics that affect large geographic regions, perhaps spreading worldwide.
(spread to large geographic areas)
*Chapter 2: Homeostasis and Adaptive Responses to Stressors* - answer
Homeostasis - answerA state of being in which all systems are in balance around a articular ideal "set-
point"
Exhausation - answerPoint where body can no longer return to homeostasis following a prolonged
exposure to noxious agents
Allostatic Overload - answer"Cost" of body's organs and tissues for an excessive or ineffectively
regulated allostatic response; effect of "wear and tear" on the body
,Adaptation - answerAdaptation: biopsychosocial process of change in response to new or altered
circumstances, internal or external in origin
Coping: behavioral adaptive response to a stressor using culturally based coping mechanisms
Adaptation and coping: terms used interchangeably
Arousal - answerIncludes alterations in responsiveness to homeostatic pressures, sensory stimuli and
emotional reactivity, and to changes in motor activity
Function of Cortisol - answerPrimary glucocorticoid
Affects protein metabolism
Promotes appetite and food-seeking behaviors
Has anti-inflammatory effects
Chemical mediator in the inflammation response of the body
Adrenal corticosteroid critical to maintenance of homeostasis
May synergize or antagonize effects of catecholamines
*Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function* - answer
Endocrine Communication - answerHormones traveling in the bloodstream
Long range signaling
Neurocrine Communication - answerNeurons firing information through synapses
Signals travel a very small distance between neuron and target cell
Paracrine Communcation - answerSignaling through the extraceullar fluid between cells in a tissue
Localized areas of communication
, Autocrine Communcation - answerLocalized signaling in which the secreting cell is also the target cell
Feedback to self
Describe an Action Potential - answerRapid, self-propagating electrical excitations of the membrane
Mediated by voltage-gated ion channels that open (sodium flows into the cell) and close in response to
voltage changes across the membrane
Triggered by membrane depolarization
Propagated by sequential opening of voltage-gated sodium channels in adjacent sections of membrane.
The action potential is regenerated in adjacent sections of membrane as more sodium channels open.
The initial segment repolarizes as sodium channels close and potassium ions move out.
Cardiac muscles: repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
*Na+* initiates the action potential
*Only cells with voltage-gated channels have action potentials (not nerve cells)*
Describe a Resting Action Potential - answerElectrical charge when there is no net ion movement across
plasma membrane
Major determinant: Ratio of Internal-to-External [K+]
This is dominated by potassium (K+)
Take Home Message About Action Potentials - answerResting Membrane Potential Dominated by K+
Upstroke of Action Potential --> Na+
Repolarization --> K+
In cardiac tissue, plateau --> Ca++
