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A 51-year-old patient reports a worst headache of life with sudden onset during activity, followed by neck stiffness. CT head is negative; lumbar puncture shows xanthochromic CSF. Which process explains this presentation?

A 29-year-old patient has episodic unilateral vision loss with eye pain (optic neuritis), and months later develops limb numbness and weakness that partially improves. MRI brain shows periventricular plaques; CSF has oligoclonal bands. Which process explains this disease?

A 46-year-old man presents with severe low back pain after lifting a heavy object. Straight leg raise test reproduces pain radiating down the left leg. MRI shows herniated L5-S1 disc compressing the nerve root. Which process explains his sciatica?

A 64-year-old man presents with progressive peripheral vision loss. Intraocular pressure is 28 mmHg (normal 10–21 mmHg). Optic disc cupping is present. Which process explains his disease?

A 67-year-old woman presents with chronic joint pain and stiffness that worsens with activity and improves with rest. Imaging shows joint space narrowing, osteophyte formation, and subchondral sclerosis. Which process explains her arthritis?

A 60-year-old man presents with fatigue and darkening of the skin. Labs: sodium 128 mmol/L (normal 135–145), potassium 5.9 mmol/L (normal 3.5–5.0), cortisol low, ACTH high. Which process explains his adrenal insufficiency?

A 9-year-old child presents with acute ear pain and fever after a viral URI. Exam: bulging erythematous tympanic membrane. Which pathophysiologic process explains the illness?

A 61-year-old man presents with muscle weakness and kidney stones. His wife reports he has become irritable, though unrelated to his illness. Labs: calcium 12.1 mg/dL (normal 8.5–10.5), PTH elevated, phosphate low. Which process explains his condition?

A 50-year-old man presents with back pain, anemia, and hypercalcemia. Serum protein electrophoresis shows an M-spike. Bone marrow biopsy reveals clonal plasma cells. Which process explains his skeletal disease?

A 12-year-old boy presents with progressive difficulty walking, calf pseudohypertrophy, and frequent falls. Creatine kinase markedly elevated. Genetic testing shows dystrophin mutation. Which process explains his disease?