https://www.stuvia.com/user/profgoodluck
Pathophysiology NUR 2063 / NUR2063:
Essentials of Exam 1 (Latest 2026/ 2027)
Graded A+ | Rasmussen
What is Pathophysiology
is the study of what happens when the normal anatomy and physiology go wrong, causing
disorder and disease process of the human body.
What 4 things does pathophysiology include?
Etiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment Implications
What is etiology
study of causes or reasons for phenomena. Includes Idiopathic conditions that have an
unknown origin or cause.
What is pathogenesis?
development or evolution of disease from initial stimulus to the expression of
manifestations as time occurs.
What are clinical manifestations?
Signs and symptoms of disorder.
What are treatment implications?
Which combine the etology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations to determine the best
treatment of condition per individual.
What are signs?
Objective or observed manifestations of disease.
What are symptoms?
Subjective feelings of abnormality in the body.
What is objective data
What you observe and can measure.
What are examples of objective data?
rash, low blood pressure, bleeding
,What is subjective data?
What the patient may report to you
What are examples of subjective data?
pain scale, they feel suicidal, fatigued.
What is epidemiology?
study of the patterns of disease involving populations. Based on the spread and contact of
diseases in people.
What are the levels of disease prevention?
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Explain Primary Prevention
"Preventing"; altering susceptibility or reducing exposure of disease for people.
Examples of Primary Prevention
Vaccinations and Handwashing
Explain Secondary Prevention
"Screening"; early detection, screening, and management of disease to catch disease early
before it spreads
Examples of Secondary Prevention
PAP smears for STDs, lab work for HBA1C check, mammogram
Explain Tertiary Prevention
"Treating" and preventing further complications from a disorder or disease after the
person has the condition
Examples of Tertiary Prevention
Rehab for hip surgery, relearning ADL's after amputation, Wound care after stroke to
prevent pressure ulcers.
What is homeostasis?
a state of equilibrium in which all body systems are in balance and the body is at its most
optimal in functioning. Stable.
What is allostasis?
ability to successfully adapt to challenges. It is not a balance but an attempt to adapt to
achieve homeostasis. Example: sweating to lower ones body temp.
, Stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome
alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Explain alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome
Where the sympathetic nervous system is activated due to stress. Fight or Flight responses
are activated and energy is given off by the HPA axis to flee or fight the danger ahead. Blood
must be redirected to vital organs in this stage to give the organs energy to work.
Explain Resistance stage of general adaptation syndrome
the activity of the Parasympathetic Nervous system and the endocrine system to return the
body to homeostasis. The body should ultimately adapt to the stressor.
Explain the exhaustion stage of general adaptation syndrome
Occurs when the stressor is not removed or overcome in the body. The body can no longer
return to homeostasis after prolonged exposure to stressor. It causes the body to be
depleted and damaged that can lead to disease or death.
What complications can occur if stressors are not resolved from general adaptation
syndrome?
disease can occur physically and mentally, such as anxiety, depression, headaches,
insomnia, infection, and heart disease.
Name the hormones released during alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome
Corticotrophin releasing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, catecholamines(
norepinephrine and epinephrine) and cortisol
Explain the Role of corticotrophin releasing hormone in alarm stage
activates the sympathetic nervous system and adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Explain the role of norepinephrine during alarm stage
helps to slow down certain organs such as the GI and GU systems to prepare the body for
fight or flight.
Explain the role of epinephrine during alarm stage
Stimulates the fight or flight response by increasing heart rate, bronchodilation of the lungs
to increase respirations and amount of air let in, dilates pupils to let more light in,
stimulates more glucose to be released.
Explain the role of cortisol during alarm stage
released by ACTH reaching the adrenal cortex, this allows for more energy creation to
increase glucose and to reduce inflammation. Suppresses the immune system.
Pathophysiology NUR 2063 / NUR2063:
Essentials of Exam 1 (Latest 2026/ 2027)
Graded A+ | Rasmussen
What is Pathophysiology
is the study of what happens when the normal anatomy and physiology go wrong, causing
disorder and disease process of the human body.
What 4 things does pathophysiology include?
Etiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment Implications
What is etiology
study of causes or reasons for phenomena. Includes Idiopathic conditions that have an
unknown origin or cause.
What is pathogenesis?
development or evolution of disease from initial stimulus to the expression of
manifestations as time occurs.
What are clinical manifestations?
Signs and symptoms of disorder.
What are treatment implications?
Which combine the etology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations to determine the best
treatment of condition per individual.
What are signs?
Objective or observed manifestations of disease.
What are symptoms?
Subjective feelings of abnormality in the body.
What is objective data
What you observe and can measure.
What are examples of objective data?
rash, low blood pressure, bleeding
,What is subjective data?
What the patient may report to you
What are examples of subjective data?
pain scale, they feel suicidal, fatigued.
What is epidemiology?
study of the patterns of disease involving populations. Based on the spread and contact of
diseases in people.
What are the levels of disease prevention?
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Explain Primary Prevention
"Preventing"; altering susceptibility or reducing exposure of disease for people.
Examples of Primary Prevention
Vaccinations and Handwashing
Explain Secondary Prevention
"Screening"; early detection, screening, and management of disease to catch disease early
before it spreads
Examples of Secondary Prevention
PAP smears for STDs, lab work for HBA1C check, mammogram
Explain Tertiary Prevention
"Treating" and preventing further complications from a disorder or disease after the
person has the condition
Examples of Tertiary Prevention
Rehab for hip surgery, relearning ADL's after amputation, Wound care after stroke to
prevent pressure ulcers.
What is homeostasis?
a state of equilibrium in which all body systems are in balance and the body is at its most
optimal in functioning. Stable.
What is allostasis?
ability to successfully adapt to challenges. It is not a balance but an attempt to adapt to
achieve homeostasis. Example: sweating to lower ones body temp.
, Stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome
alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Explain alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome
Where the sympathetic nervous system is activated due to stress. Fight or Flight responses
are activated and energy is given off by the HPA axis to flee or fight the danger ahead. Blood
must be redirected to vital organs in this stage to give the organs energy to work.
Explain Resistance stage of general adaptation syndrome
the activity of the Parasympathetic Nervous system and the endocrine system to return the
body to homeostasis. The body should ultimately adapt to the stressor.
Explain the exhaustion stage of general adaptation syndrome
Occurs when the stressor is not removed or overcome in the body. The body can no longer
return to homeostasis after prolonged exposure to stressor. It causes the body to be
depleted and damaged that can lead to disease or death.
What complications can occur if stressors are not resolved from general adaptation
syndrome?
disease can occur physically and mentally, such as anxiety, depression, headaches,
insomnia, infection, and heart disease.
Name the hormones released during alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome
Corticotrophin releasing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, catecholamines(
norepinephrine and epinephrine) and cortisol
Explain the Role of corticotrophin releasing hormone in alarm stage
activates the sympathetic nervous system and adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Explain the role of norepinephrine during alarm stage
helps to slow down certain organs such as the GI and GU systems to prepare the body for
fight or flight.
Explain the role of epinephrine during alarm stage
Stimulates the fight or flight response by increasing heart rate, bronchodilation of the lungs
to increase respirations and amount of air let in, dilates pupils to let more light in,
stimulates more glucose to be released.
Explain the role of cortisol during alarm stage
released by ACTH reaching the adrenal cortex, this allows for more energy creation to
increase glucose and to reduce inflammation. Suppresses the immune system.
