Test Bank For Gould's Pathophysiology for
the Health Professions, 7th Edition
by Karin C. VanMeter, PhD and Robert J. Hubert, BS
,Chapter 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology
1. Which of the following is the primary focus of pathophysiology? A) To describe the
normal functioning of body systems
B) To identify the symptoms of diseases
C) To understand the underlying mechanisms of disease processes
D) To evaluate the psychological aspects of disease
Answer: C) To understand the underlying mechanisms of disease processes
Rationale: Pathophysiology focuses on the study of how disease processes affect the
function of the body. It involves understanding the mechanisms by which diseases disrupt
normal physiology, rather than just identifying symptoms or evaluating psychological
factors. Understanding disease mechanisms helps health professionals treat and manage
conditions effectively.
2. Which of the following terms describes the functional changes associated with
disease or injury? A) Etiology
B) Pathogenesis
C) Diagnosis
D) Prognosis
Answer: B) Pathogenesis
Rationale: Pathogenesis refers to the development of a disease and the changes in
normal cell, tissue, and organ function that occur as a result. Etiology refers to the cause
of the disease, while diagnosis involves identifying the disease, and prognosis is the
predicted outcome of the disease.
3. The term “etiology” in pathophysiology refers to which of the following? A) The
functional changes resulting from disease
B) The treatment options available for a disease
C) The cause or origin of a disease
D) The predicted outcome of a disease
Answer: C) The cause or origin of a disease
Rationale: Etiology is concerned with the causes or origins of disease, which can be
genetic, environmental, or a combination of both. It is essential in understanding the
onset and progression of diseases.
4. Which of the following best describes a primary prevention strategy in health care?
A) Taking medication to reduce symptoms of a chronic illness
B) Regular exercise and healthy diet to prevent heart disease
C) Screening for breast cancer in asymptomatic women
D) Administration of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections
Answer: B) Regular exercise and healthy diet to prevent heart disease
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent the occurrence of disease by addressing
, risk factors before a disease develops. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help
prevent conditions like heart disease, while secondary prevention involves screening, and
tertiary prevention involves treatment and rehabilitation.
5. Which of the following is an example of a secondary prevention strategy? A)
Immunization against influenza
B) Regular blood pressure monitoring for early hypertension detection
C) Physical therapy after a stroke
D) Health education on smoking cessation
Answer: B) Regular blood pressure monitoring for early hypertension detection
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection of disease and early
intervention to prevent progression. Monitoring blood pressure regularly helps identify
hypertension early before it causes serious health issues.
6. What does the term “homeostasis” refer to in the context of pathophysiology? A)
The body’s ability to recover from injury
B) The maintenance of a stable internal environment
C) The body’s process of adapting to environmental changes
D) The body’s ability to resist infections
Answer: B) The maintenance of a stable internal environment
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the process by which the body maintains a stable
internal environment, such as regulating body temperature, fluid balance, and blood
pressure, despite external changes.
7. Which of the following describes an adaptation in response to a disease or injury?
A) Cellular hypertrophy
B) Apoptosis
C) Necrosis
D) Inflammation
Answer: A) Cellular hypertrophy
Rationale: Cellular hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of cells in response to an
increased workload, which is an adaptive response to stress or injury. Apoptosis is
programmed cell death, necrosis is unregulated cell death, and inflammation is a response
to injury or infection.
8. The study of how the body’s cells, tissues, and organs respond to injury, disease, or
other conditions is known as: A) Physiology
B) Pathophysiology
C) Biochemistry
D) Pharmacology
Answer: B) Pathophysiology
Rationale: Pathophysiology specifically examines the functional changes that occur in
, the body as a result of disease or injury, including cellular, tissue, and organ-level
responses.
9. Which of the following is an example of a genetic etiology of disease? A) Exposure to
radiation
B) Smoking tobacco
C) Inherited mutations in the BRCA gene
D) Infections caused by bacteria
Answer: C) Inherited mutations in the BRCA gene
Rationale: Genetic etiologies involve diseases caused by inherited mutations in DNA,
such as those found in the BRCA gene, which can increase the risk of breast and ovarian
cancer. The other options are environmental causes of disease.
10. Which of the following is a characteristic of chronic disease? A) Sudden onset with
severe symptoms
B) Long-term and persistent course
C) Always reversible with treatment
D) Typically resolves within a few weeks
Answer: B) Long-term and persistent course
Rationale: Chronic diseases are characterized by a long-term or persistent course, often lasting
for years or even a lifetime. They may have fluctuating symptoms but do not resolve quickly like
acute diseases.
11. Which of the following is considered a compensatory mechanism in response to
disease? A) Swelling due to inflammation
B) Increased heart rate in response to blood loss
C) Cell death due to lack of oxygen
D) Fibrosis after tissue injury
Answer: B) Increased heart rate in response to blood loss
Rationale: Compensatory mechanisms are the body’s responses to disease or injury that aim to
restore balance. In the case of blood loss, the heart rate increases to maintain cardiac output and
oxygen delivery.
12. Which of the following is a feature of inflammation in response to injury? A)
Formation of scar tissue
B) Decreased blood flow to the injured area
C) Increase in blood flow to the injured area
D) Inhibition of immune cell activity
Answer: C) Increase in blood flow to the injured area
Rationale: Inflammation is the body’s initial response to injury and involves increased blood
flow to the affected area, which facilitates the delivery of immune cells, nutrients, and oxygen to
promote healing.
