NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam 1 Review: (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Cellular
Adaptation, Inflammation, Immunity, Infection, Skin Disorders | Q&A | Grade
A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers)
COMPREHENSIVE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REVIEW
SUBJECT SOURCE FORMAT
Pathophysiology / Cellular Biology / NR 283 Exam 1 Review 2026/2027 Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
Immunology / Infectious Disease
Q1
What is pathophysiology?
Functional (physiologic) changes in the body as a result of disease; uses
CORRECT ANSWER
knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Pathophysiology includes aspects of pathology (structural changes in body tissues caused by disease).
● Cause and effect relationships defined by signs and symptoms guide the study of specific disease.
Q2
What is homeostasis?
CORRECT ANSWER Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment regardless of external
changes
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Homeostasis maintained = good health maintained.
● Homeostasis not maintained = development of disease.
● Normal values occur within a range and may vary depending on age, gender, genetics, environment, and activity
level.
Q3
What is the difference between signs and symptoms?
CORRECT ANSWER Signs are objective indicators of disease (measurable); Symptoms are subjective
feelings reported by the patient
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Examples of signs: fever, rash, abnormal lab values, vital signs.
● Examples of symptoms: pain, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headache.
● Both are essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
, Q4
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
CORRECT ANSWERIncidence = number of NEW cases in a given population within a given time
period; Prevalence = number of NEW, OLD, or EXISTING cases within a given population and
time period
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Prevalence is a broader measure that includes all existing cases (both new and old).
● Incidence measures the rate of new disease development (risk).
● Both are used by epidemiologists to track disease patterns.
Q5
What is the difference between epidemic and pandemic?
CORRECT ANSWEREpidemic = higher than expected number of cases within an AREA; Pandemic =
higher than expected number of cases in MANY REGIONS of the globe
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● An epidemic is localized (e.g., city, region, country).
● A pandemic spreads across continents (e.g., COVID-19, influenza 1918).
● Outbreak is a sudden increase in a localized area.
Q6
What is the difference between acute and chronic disease?
CORRECT ANSWERAcute = short-term, develops quickly with marked signs (high fever, severe pain);
Chronic = develops gradually, milder symptoms, often intermittent with acute episodes
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Example of acute: appendicitis, myocardial infarction, influenza.
● Example of chronic: rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, COPD, hypertension.
● Chronic diseases often cause permanent tissue damage.
Q7
What is atrophy? Give an example.
CORRECT ANSWER Decrease in size of cells resulting in reduced tissue mass; Example: prolonged bed
rest, cast on extremity
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Physiologic atrophy occurs with aging (thymus gland, brain).
● Pathologic atrophy occurs with disuse (cast), denervation, or ischemia.
● Atrophied cells have decreased protein synthesis and increased protein degradation.
Adaptation, Inflammation, Immunity, Infection, Skin Disorders | Q&A | Grade
A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers)
COMPREHENSIVE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REVIEW
SUBJECT SOURCE FORMAT
Pathophysiology / Cellular Biology / NR 283 Exam 1 Review 2026/2027 Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
Immunology / Infectious Disease
Q1
What is pathophysiology?
Functional (physiologic) changes in the body as a result of disease; uses
CORRECT ANSWER
knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Pathophysiology includes aspects of pathology (structural changes in body tissues caused by disease).
● Cause and effect relationships defined by signs and symptoms guide the study of specific disease.
Q2
What is homeostasis?
CORRECT ANSWER Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment regardless of external
changes
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Homeostasis maintained = good health maintained.
● Homeostasis not maintained = development of disease.
● Normal values occur within a range and may vary depending on age, gender, genetics, environment, and activity
level.
Q3
What is the difference between signs and symptoms?
CORRECT ANSWER Signs are objective indicators of disease (measurable); Symptoms are subjective
feelings reported by the patient
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Examples of signs: fever, rash, abnormal lab values, vital signs.
● Examples of symptoms: pain, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headache.
● Both are essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
, Q4
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
CORRECT ANSWERIncidence = number of NEW cases in a given population within a given time
period; Prevalence = number of NEW, OLD, or EXISTING cases within a given population and
time period
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Prevalence is a broader measure that includes all existing cases (both new and old).
● Incidence measures the rate of new disease development (risk).
● Both are used by epidemiologists to track disease patterns.
Q5
What is the difference between epidemic and pandemic?
CORRECT ANSWEREpidemic = higher than expected number of cases within an AREA; Pandemic =
higher than expected number of cases in MANY REGIONS of the globe
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● An epidemic is localized (e.g., city, region, country).
● A pandemic spreads across continents (e.g., COVID-19, influenza 1918).
● Outbreak is a sudden increase in a localized area.
Q6
What is the difference between acute and chronic disease?
CORRECT ANSWERAcute = short-term, develops quickly with marked signs (high fever, severe pain);
Chronic = develops gradually, milder symptoms, often intermittent with acute episodes
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Example of acute: appendicitis, myocardial infarction, influenza.
● Example of chronic: rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, COPD, hypertension.
● Chronic diseases often cause permanent tissue damage.
Q7
What is atrophy? Give an example.
CORRECT ANSWER Decrease in size of cells resulting in reduced tissue mass; Example: prolonged bed
rest, cast on extremity
CLINICAL RATIONALE
● Physiologic atrophy occurs with aging (thymus gland, brain).
● Pathologic atrophy occurs with disuse (cast), denervation, or ischemia.
● Atrophied cells have decreased protein synthesis and increased protein degradation.
