NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
NR 283 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Review Concepts
Cellular Biology/Cellular Adaptation/Cellular Injury Chapter 1
o Cellular Adaptation
o Atrophy – decrease in size of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass (immobilized
limb in a cast)
o Hypertrophy – increase in size of cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
(enlarged heart muscle)
o Hyperplasia – increase in number of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass
(could be compensatory mechanism or hormonal imbalance, cancer)
o Metaplasia – one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type
(could be compensatory mechanism)
o Dysplasia – tissue in which the cell varies size & shape, large nuclei are
frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased (precancerous - cervical
cells)
o Anaplasia – cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell
structures and numerous mitotic figures (in most malignant tumors; basis for
grading aggressive tumors)
o Neoplasia “new growth”; Neo - new, Plasm - growth
o Benign – less serious, do not spread, non-life threatening unless found in
certain locations (i.e. brain)
o Malignant – undifferentiated & nonfunctional cells that do not appear
organized; rapid production & abnormal mitotic figures; cancer
o Vocabulary Terms at on page 6-8 (Under headings of “Characteristics of Disease”
and “Disease Prognosis.”)
Characteristic of Disease:
o Pathogenesis: refers to the development of the disease or the sequence of the
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
events involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process
o Acute disease: indicates a short-term illness that develops quickly with marked
signs such as high fever or severe pain
o Chronic disease: milder condition developing gradually, such as rheumatoid
arthritis, but it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue
damage. Usually marked by intermittent acute episodes.
o Subclinical State: exist in some conditions in which pathological changes occur
but the patient exhibits no obvious manifestations, perhaps because of the great
reserve capacity of some organs.
o Latent State: silent stage, in which no clinical signs are evident,
o Incubation Period: which is the time between exposure to the microorganism
and the onset of signs or symptoms.
o Prodromal Period: period compromises the time the early development of a
disease when one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific
o Manifestations: of a disease are the clinical evidence or effects, the signs, and
symptoms, of the disease
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
o Local: found at the site of the problem
o Systemic: general indicators of illness
o Signs: objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the
affected individual. Can be local or systemic
o Symptoms: subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea
o Lesion: term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue. Can be
microscopic
o Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one
organ, that usually occur together in response to a certain condition
o Diagnostic tests: laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease
o Remission: is a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease
subside, either permanently or temporarily
o Exacerbations: is a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its
signs/symptoms
o Precipitating Factor: condition that triggers an acute episode
o Complications: are new secondary or additional problems that arise after the
original disease begins
o Therapy/ therapeutic interventions: treatment measures used to promote recovery
or slow the progress of a disease. Ex: surgery, drugs, physiotherapy, therapies,
behavior modifications
o Sequelae: the potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition, such as
paralysis following recovery from stroke
o Convalescence or rehabilitation: period of recovery and return to the normal
healthy state, may last days or months
Disease Prognosis:
o Prognosis: probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes
o Morbidity: indicates the disease rate within a group
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
o Mortality: indicate the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease
o Autopsy: examination of all or part of the body by a pathologist
o Epidemiology: science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
o Occurrence: tracked by two factors
o Incidence: the number of new cases in a given population noted within a
stated time frame.
o Prevalence: number of new and old or existing cases within a specific
population and time frame.
o Epidemics: occur when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an
infectious disease within a given area
o Pandemics: higher numbers of cases in many regions of the globe
o Communicable: disease or infections that can be spread from one person to another
o Notifiable/ Reportable: disease must be reported by the physician to certain
designated authorities.
o Types of tissue necrosis
o Liquefaction Necrosis – dead cells liquify due to certain cell enzymes (ex.
brain tissue dies or cavity/ulcer development in affected area)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
NR 283 Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Review Concepts
Cellular Biology/Cellular Adaptation/Cellular Injury Chapter 1
o Cellular Adaptation
o Atrophy – decrease in size of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass (immobilized
limb in a cast)
o Hypertrophy – increase in size of cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
(enlarged heart muscle)
o Hyperplasia – increase in number of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass
(could be compensatory mechanism or hormonal imbalance, cancer)
o Metaplasia – one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type
(could be compensatory mechanism)
o Dysplasia – tissue in which the cell varies size & shape, large nuclei are
frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased (precancerous - cervical
cells)
o Anaplasia – cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell
structures and numerous mitotic figures (in most malignant tumors; basis for
grading aggressive tumors)
o Neoplasia “new growth”; Neo - new, Plasm - growth
o Benign – less serious, do not spread, non-life threatening unless found in
certain locations (i.e. brain)
o Malignant – undifferentiated & nonfunctional cells that do not appear
organized; rapid production & abnormal mitotic figures; cancer
o Vocabulary Terms at on page 6-8 (Under headings of “Characteristics of Disease”
and “Disease Prognosis.”)
Characteristic of Disease:
o Pathogenesis: refers to the development of the disease or the sequence of the
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
events involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process
o Acute disease: indicates a short-term illness that develops quickly with marked
signs such as high fever or severe pain
o Chronic disease: milder condition developing gradually, such as rheumatoid
arthritis, but it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue
damage. Usually marked by intermittent acute episodes.
o Subclinical State: exist in some conditions in which pathological changes occur
but the patient exhibits no obvious manifestations, perhaps because of the great
reserve capacity of some organs.
o Latent State: silent stage, in which no clinical signs are evident,
o Incubation Period: which is the time between exposure to the microorganism
and the onset of signs or symptoms.
o Prodromal Period: period compromises the time the early development of a
disease when one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific
o Manifestations: of a disease are the clinical evidence or effects, the signs, and
symptoms, of the disease
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
o Local: found at the site of the problem
o Systemic: general indicators of illness
o Signs: objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the
affected individual. Can be local or systemic
o Symptoms: subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea
o Lesion: term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue. Can be
microscopic
o Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one
organ, that usually occur together in response to a certain condition
o Diagnostic tests: laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease
o Remission: is a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease
subside, either permanently or temporarily
o Exacerbations: is a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its
signs/symptoms
o Precipitating Factor: condition that triggers an acute episode
o Complications: are new secondary or additional problems that arise after the
original disease begins
o Therapy/ therapeutic interventions: treatment measures used to promote recovery
or slow the progress of a disease. Ex: surgery, drugs, physiotherapy, therapies,
behavior modifications
o Sequelae: the potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition, such as
paralysis following recovery from stroke
o Convalescence or rehabilitation: period of recovery and return to the normal
healthy state, may last days or months
Disease Prognosis:
o Prognosis: probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes
o Morbidity: indicates the disease rate within a group
, NR 283
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1 REVIEW
CONCEPTS
o Mortality: indicate the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease
o Autopsy: examination of all or part of the body by a pathologist
o Epidemiology: science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
o Occurrence: tracked by two factors
o Incidence: the number of new cases in a given population noted within a
stated time frame.
o Prevalence: number of new and old or existing cases within a specific
population and time frame.
o Epidemics: occur when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an
infectious disease within a given area
o Pandemics: higher numbers of cases in many regions of the globe
o Communicable: disease or infections that can be spread from one person to another
o Notifiable/ Reportable: disease must be reported by the physician to certain
designated authorities.
o Types of tissue necrosis
o Liquefaction Necrosis – dead cells liquify due to certain cell enzymes (ex.
brain tissue dies or cavity/ulcer development in affected area)
