Pathophysiology vocabs

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology

Study of functional / physiologic changes in the body that result from disease processes.

Pathology

Study of cell and tissue changes associated with disease

Etiology

Concerns the causative factors in a particular disease. 

Pathogenesis

The early stages in the development of a disease.

Prognosis

Probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes.

Diagnosis

Identification of a specific disease through evaluation signs and symptoms

Prevention

Maintaining routines to prevent diseases forming such as vaccinations and screening programs.

Signs

Objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the affected individual, such as fever or paling of the face

Symptoms

Subjective feelings that are not visible to the eye, such as pain or nausea.

Diagnostic tests

Laboratory test that assist in the diagnosis of specific disease. 

Onset

The first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness

Chronic

A condition with insidious or slow , miled but continuous manifestations, and long-lasting, often progressive effects

Acute

A disease with sudden onset of signs and short course

Subclinical

Not detectable, or producing effects that are no detectable by the usual clinical tests

Latent

A condition that is present but not active or causing symptoms

Local

Limited to a particular body part

Systemic

Affecting the entire body, rather than a single organ of body part

Sequelae

An aftereffect of disease, condition, or injury

Complications

A medical problem that occurs during a disease, or after a procedure or treatment

Prodomal

Early signs or symptoms of an illness or health problem that appear before the major signs or symptoms start

Infectious

Capable of causing an infection

Course

The series of events or stages comprising a natural process; progress of disease

Exacerbation

An acute episode or increased severity of manifestations.

Communicable

A disease that can be transmitted from an infected person, directly or indirectly, to other susceptible hosts.

Syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms characteristic of a specific disorder.

Insidous

Developing without symptoms and signs

Disorder

A disruption of or interference with normal functions or established systems

Nosocomial

an infection acquired while hospitalized.

Manifestation

When a person's body functions or appearance change from normal due to an illness, which can lead to an underlying disease.

Incubation

The time between the initial exposure to the infectious agent and the appearance of the first signs of infection.

Therapy

Treatment measure used to promote recovery or slow the progress of a disease (I.e surgery, drugs, physiotherapy)

Benign

Considered less serious, they do not spread and are not life threatening

Malignant

Cancerous

Idiopathic

Cause of the disease is unknown

Iatrogenic

Cases in which a treatment, procedure, or error causes a disease/infection

Exogenous

From the outside environment

Endogenous

From inside the body

Lesion

A specific local change in tissue (Microscopic or visible)

Predisposing factors

Tendences that promote development of disease in an individual, increased risk such as age, gender, genetics, exposure, and dietary practices

Precipitating factors

A condition that triggers an acute episodes

Biopsy

the removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination to determine a diagnosis.

Gross

The study of human structures that can be seen with the naked eye.

Microscopic

visible only when magnified by lenses in a microscope.

Remission

Manifestation of the disease subsides

Convalescence

Time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation.

Rehabilitation

A process to restore mental and/or physical abilities lost to injury or disease, to function normally or near-normally.

Prophylaxis

Measure designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease

Notifiable/reportable

A disease that, when diagnosed, requires health providers (usually by law) to report to state or local public health officials

Autopsy/postmortem examination

An examination of part or all of a body, including organs, after death (postmortem) to determine the cause of illness and death.

Homeostasis

A relatively stable or constant environment in the body, including blood pressure, temperature, and pH, maintained by the various control mechanisms.

Morbidity

The condition of suffering from a disease or medical condition.

Mortality

The state of being subject to death.

Pandemic

A WORLDWIDE increase in the numbers of people affected by a disease.

Occurrence

The frequency of a disease happening.

Incidence

The number of NEW cases of a disease in certain population within a time period.

Prevalence

The total number of new AND existing case of a disease in a specific population at a given time.

Epidemiology

The study of the determinants, occurrence, and distribution of health and disease in a defined population.

Epidemic

Higher than expected number of infectious diseases in a SPECIFIC AREA