Microbial Diseases Vocabulary

Flashcards covering microbial diseases of the skin, eye, and nervous system.

Pathology

The study of disease.

Pathogenicity

The ability to cause disease.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity.

Infection

Invasion or colonization of the body by pathogens.

Disease

An abnormal state in which the body is not performing normal functions.

Symptoms

Changes in body function that are felt by a patient as a result of disease.

Signs

Changes in a body that can be measured or observed as a result of disease.

Syndrome

A specific group of signs and symptoms that accompany a disease.

Communicable disease

A disease that is spread from one host to another.

Contagious diseases

Diseases that are easily and rapidly spread from one host to another.

Noncommunicable disease

A disease not spread from one host to another.

Keratin

Waterproofing protein coating outer layer of epidermis.

Epidermis

Thin outer portion of skin; composed of layers of epithelial cells.

Dermis

Inner, thick portion of skin; composed mainly of connective tissue, location of skin blood supply.

Subcutaneous

Deepest layer of skin; composed of fat and connective tissue, insulates the body and absorb shocks

Vesicles

Small, fluid-filled lesions.

Bullae

Vesicles larger than 1 centimeter in diameter.

Macules

Flat, reddened lesions.

Papules

Raised lesions.

Pustules

Raised lesions with pus.

Impetigo

Contagious red sores that break open and leave crust, appear mostly around nose and mouth

Coagulase

Enzyme that clots fibrin in the blood, used to identify types of staphylococci.

Folliculitis

Infections of the hair follicles.

Sty

Folliculitis of an eyelash.

Furuncle (boil)

A type of abscess; localized region of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.

Carbuncle

Damage and inflammation of deep tissue from a spreading furuncle; a cluster of furuncles.

Trachoma

The leading cause of blindness worldwide, transmitted via hand contact or flies.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Meningoencephalitis

Inflammation of both the meninges and the brain.