Introduction to Pathology – Core Concepts

30 Question-and-Answer flashcards summarizing key terminology, distinctions, and examples from the lecture on introductory pathology.

What is the definition of pathology?

The study of structural and functional manifestations of disease, including abnormalities in organs or body systems.

How is radiologic pathology defined?

The study of pathologic conditions and their effects on radiologic procedures, techniques, and resultant images.

What is meant by the term disease?

Any abnormal disturbance of body structure or function resulting from injury.

Define pathogenesis.

The sequence of events that produces cellular changes leading to observable changes in disease.

What are manifestations in a disease process?

Observable changes that result from cellular alterations caused by a disease.

How is a symptom characterized?

A patient’s subjective perception of a disease (e.g., headache, nausea, dizziness).

What is a sign?

An objective manifestation of disease that can be detected by a physician during examination (e.g., fever, skin rash, swelling).

Differentiate a sign from a symptom.

Signs are objective and observable by others; symptoms are subjective and experienced only by the patient.

What is a syndrome?

A group of signs and symptoms that together characterize a specific abnormal disturbance (e.g., Down syndrome, Carpal Tunnel syndrome).

Define the term asymptomatic.

Showing or causing no identifiable symptoms despite the presence of disease.

What does etiology refer to?

The study of the cause of a disease.

What are iatrogenic reactions?

Adverse responses that occur as a result of medical treatment itself.

Define nosocomial infection.

An infection acquired while a patient is hospitalized.

What does idiopathic mean in pathology?

Describes a disease of unknown cause (e.g., Hutchinson-Gilford progeria).

How is an acute disease described?

A disease with a rapid onset and short duration (e.g., pneumonia, fractures).

What characterizes a chronic disease?

A disease that develops slowly and persists for a long time (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertension).

Give three examples of acute diseases.

Upper respiratory infections, lacerations, gastroenteritis (any similar examples from list accepted).

Give three examples of chronic diseases.

Heart disease, asthma, low back pain (any similar examples from list accepted).

What is a diagnosis?

Identification of the disease an individual is believed to have.

Define prognosis.

The predicted course and outcome of a disease for a given patient.

What is epidemiology?

The investigation of disease in large population groups.

Define prevalence.

The total number of existing cases of a disease in a given population.

Define incidence.

The number of new cases of a disease occurring in a given time period.

What is an epidemic?

A disease that simultaneously affects large numbers of people in a community.

Define endemic.

A disease with high prevalence in an area where its causative organism is commonly found.

What is mortality rate?

The number of deaths caused by a particular disease averaged over a population (ratio of actual to expected deaths).

Define morbidity rate.

The incidence of sickness that interferes with normal daily routine; ratio of sick to well persons in a given area.

State the typical cause of death in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria.

Most patients die from cardiovascular complications such as heart attack or stroke.

What congenital anomaly is referred to as “mermaid syndrome”?

Sirenomelia, a rare condition where the legs are fused together.

Which parasitic infection commonly causes elephantiasis?

Filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.