Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
Pathophysiology BIOD 331-Module 1 Exam
Study Questions and Answers 2025
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"? -Correct Answer ✔Pathophysiology
is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but
also the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed. -Correct Answer
✔Etiologic factors are the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't
necessarily develop the disease but are predispositioned to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism.
Nutritional excess in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors? -Correct Answer ✔Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology? -Correct Answer
✔Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues.
Histology is the study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
-Correct Answer ✔These both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an
objective manifestation while symptoms are a subjective complaint. Signs are
apparent to the physician, symptoms are apparent to the patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis? -Correct Answer
✔Patient history, diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
, Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. -Correct Answer
✔Validity: how a tool measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool
to do the job, such as using a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on
someone's experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks. -Correct Answer
✔Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a
community by tracking age, race, nutritional habits and locations.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence? -Correct Answer
✔Incidence is the number of new cases in the population at a given time,
prevalence is the number of cases that exist in the population at a given time.
Define mortality and morbidity. -Correct Answer ✔Mortality is the reason for
death in a population. Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's life, as it
pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each. -
Correct Answer ✔Primary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease
from occurring, for example eating healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either
still curable or asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions
happen to cause further complications. For example, using medication to reduce
the risk of future heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important? -Correct Answer ✔Evidence-based
practice is important because medical professions follow up-to-date information
and studies in order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are
followed, preventing physicians from using outdates practices that no longer
benefit the patient.
Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
Pathophysiology BIOD 331-Module 1 Exam
Study Questions and Answers 2025
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"? -Correct Answer ✔Pathophysiology
is defined as not only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but
also the effects that these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed. -Correct Answer
✔Etiologic factors are the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't
necessarily develop the disease but are predispositioned to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism.
Nutritional excess in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors? -Correct Answer ✔Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology? -Correct Answer
✔Morphology is defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues.
Histology is the study of the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each.
-Correct Answer ✔These both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an
objective manifestation while symptoms are a subjective complaint. Signs are
apparent to the physician, symptoms are apparent to the patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis? -Correct Answer
✔Patient history, diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
, Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. -Correct Answer
✔Validity: how a tool measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool
to do the job, such as using a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on
someone's experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks. -Correct Answer
✔Epidemiology is the study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a
community by tracking age, race, nutritional habits and locations.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence? -Correct Answer
✔Incidence is the number of new cases in the population at a given time,
prevalence is the number of cases that exist in the population at a given time.
Define mortality and morbidity. -Correct Answer ✔Mortality is the reason for
death in a population. Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's life, as it
pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each. -
Correct Answer ✔Primary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease
from occurring, for example eating healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either
still curable or asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions
happen to cause further complications. For example, using medication to reduce
the risk of future heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important? -Correct Answer ✔Evidence-based
practice is important because medical professions follow up-to-date information
and studies in order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are
followed, preventing physicians from using outdates practices that no longer
benefit the patient.
Pathophysiology - BIOD 331
