ZOOL 1073 Foundations of Pathophysiology - Module 1

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the foundational concepts of pathophysiology, including disease classification, etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical terminology based on the ZOOL 1073 lecture notes.

Pathophysiology

The study of the functional changes that happen to our cells, tissues and organs due to a disease or injury.

Disease

An abnormal condition characterized by homeostatic imbalance that causes variations of cellular structure and/or function outside the normal range.

Illness

The state where an individual feels unhealthy and is aware of a homeostatic imbalance, often resulting in difficulty with activities of daily living.

Biomarkers

Intracellular enzymes found in extracellular fluids, such as troponin and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), which are elevated during myocardial ischemia or infarction.

Etiology

The cause of a disease and/or injury, categorized as genetic, congenital, or acquired.

Genes

Specific regions of DNA where each gene codes for and regulates the synthesis of a specific protein.

Gene expression

The process by which information encoded in a particular gene is used to synthesize a specific protein via transcription ($\text{DNA} \rightarrow \text{mRNA}$) and translation ($\text{mRNA} \rightarrow \text{amino acid sequence}$).

Genetic disorders

Diseases that alter the DNA nucleotide sequences ($A, T, C, G$) due to single gene mutations, multiple gene mutations, or environmental factors.

Chromosomal defect/mutation

Additions, deletions, or translocations of sections of chromosomes (e.g., Cri du Chat) or additions/deletions of entire chromosomes (e.g., Trisomy 21).

Congenital Etiology

Structural or functional anomalies that occur during embryonic or fetal development in utero or during labour and delivery.

Teratogen

A substance or condition that impairs normal embryonic or fetal development, such as radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents.

Consanguinity

A condition where parents are closely related by blood.

TORCH acronym

A mnemonic for common teratogenic infectious agents: Toxoplasmosis, Other (viruses, bacteria, chemicals, radiation), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex 2.

Acquired Etiology

The most common etiology category, where damage occurs after birth or later in life due to environmental factors, infections, or lifestyle.

Physiological pH

The normal pH range of blood plasma and intracellular fluid, which is $7.35$ – $7.45$, with an average of $7.4$.

Acidosis

A pH imbalance where blood $\text{pH} < 7.35$.

Alkalosis

A pH imbalance where blood $\text{pH} > 7.45$.

Idiopathic

A term used when the cause of a disease is unknown.

Iatrogenic

A disease and/or injury caused by a medical intervention, such as drug side effects or surgical procedures.

Nosocomial

A health care-associated disease acquired due to being in a hospital environment.

Pathogenesis

The pathologic, physiologic, or biochemical pattern of changes that lead to the development and evolution of a disease over time.

Lesions

The actual site(s) of tissue damage caused by injury, infection, or disease.

Local/Focal lesion

Tissue damage limited to a specific, defined body location.

Diffuse (multifocal) lesion

Tissue damage distributed throughout a larger area of a specific body organ or system.

Systemic lesion

Widespread damage affecting more than one organ or organ system, such as metastatic cancer.

Parenchyma

The functional cells of an organ responsible for its specific tasks.

Stroma

The supportive framework of an organ, including connective tissue, microvasculature, lymphatic vessels, and nerve endings.

Morphology

The science of structure and form, specifically the shape and size of cells and tissues.

Signs

Objective, detectable, and testable patient information obtained by health care professionals (e.g., vital signs, lab results).

Symptoms

Subjective experiences of the patient, such as pain level, malaise, or anxiety, which are part of the medical history.

Syndrome

A disease or condition characterized by a defined group of lesions, signs, and symptoms with a common etiology.

Predisposing Risk Factor

A factor that increases the possibility of developing a disease but is not the actual cause (e.g., family history).

Precipitating Risk Factor

A factor that triggers or causes the disease or injury to develop (e.g., cigarette use leading to atherosclerosis).

Complications

A disease or condition that occurs in addition to the original tissue damage.

Sequelae

Long-term, unwanted outcomes or complications of a disease that can lead to chronic health issues and affect prognosis.

Comorbidity

Two or more diseases or medical conditions present in a patient concurrently.

Acute onset

Rapid or sudden appearance of signs and symptoms, often severe and self-limiting with a short duration.

Chronic onset

Continuous signs and symptoms of longer duration, possibly weeks, months, or lifelong.

Insidious onset

A subset of chronic onset where the disease is unnoticed by the patient for considerable periods.

Latent/dormant condition

An asymptomatic period of quiescence before signs and symptoms manifest, such as in HIV or shingles.

Remission

Periods during a chronic disease course where clinical manifestations disappear completely or significantly decrease.

Exacerbation

Periods where clinical manifestations of a chronic disease become more obvious and severe, often called flare-ups.

Incubation period

The asymptomatic stage of an infectious disease course from initial exposure to the onset of the first symptoms.

Prodromal stage

The period of an infectious disease where initial non-specific symptoms occur; it is typically the most contagious stage.

Prevalence

The number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a specific time.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disease in a population within a specific time frame.

Endemic

A disease that has high but constant rates of infection within a particular population or location.

Epidemic

A situation where the number of new infections within a particular population far exceeds the expected occurrence.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread over a large geographic area, such as a continent or globally.

Mortality Rate

The death rate due to a specific disease or cause within a specific population or time frame.

Morbidity Rate

The incidence or rate of a specific disease in a population, which reflects long-term health consequences and impacts healthcare costs.