Pathophysiology and Genetic Disorders

Flashcards for key vocabulary and concepts in pathophysiology, genetic disorders, stress, and environmental hazards.

Pathophysiology

Study of functional or physiological changes in the body due to disease, focusing on disease development and alterations in normal anatomy or physiology.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes; when maintained, health is sustained, and when disrupted, disease may develop.

Disease Prevention

Includes routine vaccinations, screening programs, community health initiatives, and regular checkups.

Biopsy

Removal of living tissue for analysis.

Autopsy

Postmortem examination.

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease through signs, symptoms, and tests.

Etiology

Study of causative factors of a disease.

Idiopathic

A disease with an unknown cause.

Iatrogenic

A disease caused by treatment or error.

Prophylaxis

Actions taken to prevent disease.

Pathogenesis

Disease development.

Acute Onset

Rapid, short-term, severe onset of disease.

Insidious Onset

Gradual, mild or vague signs of disease onset.

Chronic Disease

Gradual onset, long-term disease, may have acute episodes.

Subclinical Stage

Changes in the body without noticeable symptoms.

Latent Stage

No signs of disease yet, but the disease is present.

Prodromal Stage

Early symptoms of a disease that are nonspecific.

Local Manifestations

Symptoms specific to a site in the body.

Systemic Manifestations

General symptoms, such as fever, affecting the whole body.

Signs

Objective indicators of disease (e.g., rash, fever).

Symptoms

Subjective feelings of disease (e.g., pain, nausea).

Lesion

Specific local tissue change due to disease or damage.

Syndrome

Collection of signs and symptoms affecting more than one organ.

Remission

Symptoms of disease subside.

Exacerbation

Symptoms of disease worsen.

Precipitating Factor

Triggers an acute episode of a disease.

Complications

New, secondary issues arising from a disease.

Sequelae

Long-term effects or complications of a disease.

Convalescence

Recovery phase after a disease.

Prognosis

Expected outcome or recovery likelihood of a disease.

Morbidity

Disease rate in a group.

Mortality

Death rate from a disease.

Epidemiology

Study of disease occurrence.

Incidence

New cases of a disease in a time frame.

Prevalence

Total cases of a disease (new + existing).

Epidemic

Higher-than-expected local cases of a disease.

Pandemic

Global spread of a disease.

Atrophy

Decrease in cell size, leading to decreased tissue mass.

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size, leading to increased tissue mass.

Hyperplasia

Increase in cell number, leading to increased tissue mass.

Metaplasia

One mature cell type replaced by another.

Dysplasia

Varied cell size/shape (may precede cancer).

Anaplasia

Undifferentiated, abnormal cells.

Neoplasia

Uncontrolled new growth (tumor).

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death (normal).

Ischemia

Reduced oxygen to tissues.

Hypoxia

Oxygen deficiency.

Pyroptosis

Cell death with inflammation.

Liquefaction Necrosis

Cells liquefy (e.g., brain tissue).

Coagulative Necrosis

Proteins denature (e.g., heart, kidney).

Fat Necrosis

Fatty acids + enzymes = soap-like substance.

Caseous Necrosis

Cheesy, yellow debris (e.g., TB).

Infarction

Area of dead tissue from oxygen loss.

Gangrene

Necrotic tissue invaded by bacteria.

Neoplasm

Abnormal cell growth that is not controlled by genetic regulation.

Benign Tumors

Non-cancerous, often well-differentiated cells that grow slower and may be encapsulated.

Malignant Tumors

Undifferentiated cells that grow uncontrollably, invade surrounding tissues, and can spread to distant sites (metastasis).

Sarcomas

Malignant tumors arising from connective tissue.

Angiogenesis

Tumor cells stimulate the formation of new blood vessels to supply the growing tumor.

Cachexia

Severe wasting due to high metabolic demands of the tumor.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Tumor cells produce substances that affect body functions, like hormone imbalances.

Invasion

Local spread to adjacent tissues.

Metastasis

Spread to distant parts of the body via blood or lymphatic systems.

Carcinogenesis

The transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells.

Karyotype

A visual representation of chromosomes arranged in order of size.

Genotype

Actual genetic information carried by the individual.

Phenotype

Expression of genes; appearance of the individual’s characteristics.

Nondisjunction

Failure of chromosomes to separate properly during cell division.

Translocation

A part of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome.

Teratogens

Agents that cause birth defects if exposure occurs during pregnancy (e.g., drugs, infections).

Stress Response

Severe or prolonged stress can cause dysfunction, including increased wear and tear on tissues and exhaustion of resources.

GAS

The body's general response to stress, divided into three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Technostress (TS)

Stress caused by the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Environmental Hazards

Chemicals in food processing, synthetic materials in buildings, cosmetics and toiletries, and microbes in water and food supply.

Heavy Metals

Lead and Mercury that can accumulate in tissues over long-term exposure.

Inhalants

Particulates (e.g., asbestos, silica), gases (e.g., sulfur dioxide, ozone), solvents (e.g., benzene, acetone).

Pesticides

May cause acute or chronic health problems, depending on the type and amount.

Hyperthermia

High Temperatures that is risk associated with high environmental temperatures or strenuous activity on hot days.

Hypothermia

Cold Temperatures which is risk associated with Submersion in cold water or inadequate clothing in cold weather.

Ionizing Radiation

Includes x-rays, gamma rays, protons, and neutrons. Sources: Sun, radioactive materials in soil, radon gas, nuclear reactors, diagnostic procedures.