Pathophysiology

WGU Pathophysiology Exam

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease characterized by Heberden and Bouchard nodes in the hands.

Sprain

Overstretching of a ligament with potential tearing, graded from mild to severe based on ligament damage.

Strain

Overstretching of ligaments and muscles leading to varying degrees of injury.

Bone Fractures

Injuries to bones categorized by types like closed, open, incomplete, compression, transverse, comminuted, spiral, stress, avulsion, impacted, greenstick.

Soft Tissue Injury

Involves contractile and inert tissues, with neurovascular injury requiring frequent assessment.

Dislocation

Treatment involves relocating the joint back into place, with recovery time varying based on the joint size.

Rhabdomyolysis

Breakdown of muscle tissue leading to myoglobin release and potential kidney damage.

Burns

Impact immunity, with categories based on depth like superficial, partial thickness, and full thickness burns.

Skin Cancer

Includes melanoma and stages like benign nevus, dysplastic nevus, and metastatic malignant melanoma.

Neurological System

Covers strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic), transient ischemic attacks, and neuropathy causes and symptoms.

Muscle Weakness

Difficulty moving muscles, especially in the arms or legs.

Coordination Problems

Issues with balance and coordination.

Sensitivity to Touch

Hypersensitivity to touch, causing normal sensations to be painful.

Autonomic Symptoms

Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bladder or bowel function, and sexual function.

Foot Problems

Neuropathy-related foot complications like ulcers, infections, and deformities.

Epidural Hematoma

Bleeding between the brain's outer layer and the skull.

Subdural Hematoma

Bleeding between the brain and skull layers, with acute, subacute, or chronic forms.

Subarachnoid Hematoma

Bleeding into the space between brain membranes, causing severe headache and neurological deficits.

Parkinson Disease

Loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain's basal ganglia, leading to slow movements, tremors, and rigidity.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Loss of motor neurons resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.

Huntington Disease

Inherited degenerative disorder causing involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and emotional symptoms.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Acute peripheral neuropathy causing progressive limb weakness.

Multiple Sclerosis

Demyelinating disorder leading to CNS inflammation and symptoms like weakness and balance problems.

Myasthenia Gravis

Autoimmune disease attacking Ach receptors, causing muscle weakness and ptosis.

Glaucoma

Eye condition damaging the optic nerve, leading to gradual vision loss.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens causing hazy vision and potential blindness.

Retinal Detachment

Separation of the retina from the eye layers, causing sudden vision changes.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Damage to retinal blood vessels due to high sugar levels, potentially leading to blindness.

Ménière’s Disease

Inner ear disorder causing hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus.

Aneurysm

Localized blood vessel dilation, particularly concerning in the brain due to potential rupture and stroke.

Prinzmetal

A type of angina where there is no identifiable trigger, such as activity.

Myocardial infarction

Commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, leading to heart muscle damage or death.

Myocardial ischemia

When the heart does not receive enough blood flow during pain episodes.

Heart dysrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythms that can be harmless or life-threatening.

Congestive heart failure

When the heart cannot pump enough blood, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue.

Valvular heart diseases

Conditions affecting heart valves, including stenosis, regurgitation, or prolapse.

Endocarditis

Infection of the inner lining of heart chambers and valves.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the sac-like membrane surrounding the heart.

Myocarditis

Inflammation of the heart muscle affecting its pumping ability.

Heart Failure's body impact

Effects on the heart, blood vessels, blood, lymphatic system, nervous system, and respiratory system.

Benign vs

Different levels of severity in high blood pressure.

Heart valves

Aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves' roles and consequences of stenosis and regurgitation.

Anemia types

Folic Acid, Pernicious, Iron-Deficiency, and Aplastic Anemia.

Infectious vs

Differentiation based on the ability to spread between individuals.

Lymphatic system

Components and functions in filtering and destroying pathogens.

Leukocytosis

Increase in white blood cells in the bloodstream.

Phagocytosis

Ingestion of bacterial pathogens by specialized cells.

Inflammation

Immune response to injury involving vascular permeability and cellular chemotaxis.

Autoimmune diseases

Immune system targeting the body's tissues.

Leukemias and Lymphomas

Cancers of bone marrow and lymphocytes, respectively.

Bronchi

The trachea divides into two main bronchi, each leading to one lung, which further divide into smaller bronchioles.

Bronchioles

Small airways branching off from the bronchi and leading to the alveoli for gas exchange.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs, with thin walls surrounded by capillaries.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of breathing involving inhalation (inspiration) and exhalation (expiration) to exchange air.

Gas Exchange

Oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream from alveoli, while carbon dioxide diffuses out during respiration.

Ventilation

Inhalation expands the thoracic cavity, lowering air pressure, allowing air to rush in; exhalation reduces volume, increasing pressure for air expulsion.

Diffusion

Oxygen moves from alveoli to blood, binding to hemoglobin; carbon dioxide moves from blood to alveoli for exhalation.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs)

Conditions affecting nasal passages, sinuses, throat, and larynx.

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic reaction to airborne allergens causing symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes.

Sinusitis

Inflammation of sinuses with symptoms like facial pain, congestion, and reduced sense of smell.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx causing sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and swollen glands.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx leading to hoarseness, throat pain, and coughing.

Epiglottitis

Inflammation of the epiglottis causing severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and breathing issues.

Infectious Mononucleosis

Viral infection with symptoms like sore throat, fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs)

Affecting trachea, bronchi, and lungs, including conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung disease with persistent airflow limitation, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Conditions associated with COPD

Chronic asthma, bronchiectasis, silicosis, and pulmonary tuberculosis affecting lung function.

Esophagus

Muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach for food transport via peristalsis.

Stomach

Muscular organ for food digestion, storage, mixing with gastric juices, absorption, and immune protection.

Small Intestine

Digestive tract section for nutrient absorption, further digestion, and hormone secretion.

Inflammation

Inflammation of the digestive tract in gastrointestinal disorders can result from immune responses, infections, or autoimmune reactions.

Gastrointestinal Infections

Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or parasites can cause infections leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract can cause tissue damage due to conditions like thrombosis, embolism, or shock.

Chemical Injury

Exposure to irritants like acids, NSAIDs, or alcohol can harm the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases like celiac disease involve the immune system attacking the gastrointestinal tract, leading to inflammation and damage.

Abdominal Pain or Discomfort

Common manifestation of gastrointestinal disorders and injury.

Strictures and Obstructions

Chronic inflammation can cause narrowing of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to strictures and obstructions.

Perforation

Severe inflammation or injury can result in a hole in the intestinal wall, leading to peritonitis.

Esophageal Sphincter

Muscular rings regulating food flow between the esophagus and stomach.

Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding

Bleeding in the upper digestive tract from conditions like ulcers or varices.

Esophageal Varices

Enlarged veins in the lower esophagus, often due to liver cirrhosis.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Open sores in the stomach or duodenum, commonly caused by H. pylori infection or NSAID use.

Hernia

Protrusion of organs through the abdominal wall, potentially affecting the small intestine.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestines due to viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections.

Celiac Disease

Autoimmune reaction to gluten damaging the small intestine lining, leading to malabsorption.

Functions of the Large Intestine

Absorption of water, fermentation of carbohydrates, and formation of feces.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Includes Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, characterized by inflammation and ulceration.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Causes abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits without structural abnormalities.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix causing sudden-onset abdominal pain, potentially leading to peritonitis.

Large Bowel Obstruction

Causes abdominal distention, pain, constipation, and vomiting, with potential complications like ischemia.

Ulcerative Colitis vs

UC affects the large intestine with continuous inflammation, while Crohn's can affect any part of the GI tract with patchy inflammation.

Liver Metabolism

The liver processes nutrients, drugs, and hormones, regulating blood glucose levels by storing excess glucose as glycogen or converting it back to glucose as needed. It also converts excess carbohydrates and proteins into triglycerides, synthesizes cholesterol, and bile acids for fat digestion.

Liver Detoxification

The liver filters toxins, drugs, alcohol, and metabolic byproducts from the blood, converting them into less harmful substances for excretion.

Liver Synthesis of Proteins

The liver produces essential proteins like albumin, clotting factors, and other plasma proteins necessary for fluid balance, blood clotting, and immune function.

Liver Bile Production

The liver generates bile, aiding in fat digestion by emulsifying fats in the small intestine and facilitating their absorption.

Liver Cirrhosis

Chronic liver disease characterized by scarring, leading to complications like portal hypertension, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and increased risk of liver cancer.

Hepatitis C

A viral infection causing liver inflammation, potentially progressing to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

Gallbladder Function

The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, releasing it into the small intestine for fat digestion.

Pancreas Endocrine Function

The pancreas secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.

Pancreas Exocrine Function

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate for digestion in the small intestine.