|Updated Version| HOSA
Pathophysiology: Final Exam Question
and Answers [100% Correct] 2025
What is Panhypopituitarism?
Panhypopituitarism is a rare medical condition where the entire pituitary gland fails to produce
hormones, leading to a deficiency in the pituitary's function. This condition results in the loss of most or
all of the hormones controlled by the pituitary, affecting multiple systems in the body, including growth,
metabolism, and reproductive functions.
What is Polydipsia?
Polydipsia refers to an abnormal and persistent feeling of excessive thirst, often seen in conditions such
as diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus. It leads individuals to drink large amounts of fluids in response
to dehydration or imbalanced water regulation in the body.
What is Polyphagia?
Polyphagia is the medical term for excessive eating, which often occurs in response to metabolic
disorders like diabetes mellitus. It is driven by the body’s attempt to replenish its energy reserves when
insulin regulation is impaired or the body cannot use glucose effectively.
What is Polyuria?
Polyuria is the condition where the body produces and excretes an abnormally large volume of urine.
This symptom is often associated with diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, or excessive intake of fluids, and
can be caused by the inability of the kidneys to concentrate urine.
What is Pruritus?
Pruritus is the term used to describe an intense sensation of itching, which can result from numerous
conditions including allergic reactions, skin infections, or systemic illnesses such as liver disease or kidney
failure. It is often treated with topical creams or antihistamines.
What is Radioimmunoassay?
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,Radioimmunoassay is a laboratory technique used to measure the concentration of specific antigens,
antibodies, or other proteins in a sample, such as serum. This method employs radioactive isotopes to
detect and quantify small amounts of biological substances, commonly used in immunology and
endocrinology.
What is Somatotropin?
Somatotropin, also known as growth hormone (GH), is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary
gland that is essential for growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration. It stimulates growth in almost
all tissues, including bones and muscles, and plays a crucial role in metabolism.
What is Thyrotoxicosis?
Thyrotoxicosis is a condition caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormones, leading to symptoms
like rapid heartbeat, weight loss, tremors, and increased metabolism. The most common cause of
thyrotoxicosis is hyperthyroidism, which can be triggered by Graves' disease or toxic thyroid nodules.
What is Thyrotropin?
Thyrotropin, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that
stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). These hormones are essential for
regulating the body’s metabolism, growth, and development.
What is Thyroxine?
Thyroxine, also known as T4, is one of the major hormones produced by the thyroid gland. It helps
regulate metabolic rate and influences processes like body temperature, energy production, and the
synthesis of proteins. Thyroxine affects nearly every cell in the body and is crucial for overall metabolism.
What is Triiodothyronine (T3)?
Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone that plays a critical role in regulating growth, development,
and metabolism. It influences many physiological processes such as thermoregulation, protein synthesis,
and glucose metabolism. T3 is more potent than thyroxine and directly affects cellular activity.
What is Vasopressin?
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, Vasopressin, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a hormone released by the posterior pituitary gland that
helps control the body’s fluid balance by increasing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys.
Vasopressin’s effects include reduced urine output, increased blood volume, and raised blood pressure,
particularly in response to dehydration or increased plasma osmolarity.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is the condition in which one eye fails to develop normal vision, often referred to as "lazy
eye." It occurs when there is a discrepancy in the quality of visual input from each eye, such as from
strabismus (misaligned eyes) or a significant difference in prescription between the two eyes. This results
in impaired depth perception and can be treated with corrective measures like patching or vision
therapy.
What is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, typically caused by bacterial infections, seborrheic
dermatitis, or allergic reactions. It can lead to symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching, and flaky skin
around the eyes, often treated with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a treatment method that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. It is
commonly used to treat skin conditions like warts, precancerous cells, or certain eye disorders.
Cryotherapy can be performed using liquid nitrogen or other freezing agents to target specific areas of
the body.
What is Diplopia?
Diplopia is the condition known as double vision, where an individual sees two images of a single object.
This condition may result from disorders affecting the eye muscles, nerve function, or the brain, and can
be temporary or permanent, often requiring corrective measures such as glasses or surgery.
What is Iridotomy?
Iridotomy is a surgical procedure, often performed with a laser, that involves making a small incision in
the iris to treat certain types of glaucoma. The procedure allows aqueous humor to drain more
effectively from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber, thus reducing intraocular pressure and
preventing optic nerve damage.
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