Homeostasis
The constant and steady maintenance of internal conditions.
Disease
A state of functional disequilibrium. A change in function or structure that is considered to be abnormal.
Pathology
The study of disease.
Pathophysiology
The study of the physiological processes leading up to disease.
Signs
Objective evidence of disease observed on physical examinations. (Things that can be observed by someone else.)
Examples of Signs
Abnormal pulse, respiratory rate, fever, sweating, etc seen by medical professional
Symptoms
Subjective indications of disease reported by the patient. (Things that someone else cannot observe, but the patient can feel.)
Examples of Symptoms
Pain, dizziness, itching, etc.
Syndrome
Certain sets of signs and symptoms occur in some diseases. (combo of signs and symptoms)
Examples of Syndromes
Down's Syndrome, malabsorption syndrome, etc.
Diagnosis
The use of scientific or clinical methods to determine the nature of a disease.
Prognosis
The predicted course and outcome of the disease.
Chronic
Slower onset, long duration.
Terminal
Any disease that will end in death.
Remission
A period in which the disease's signs and symptoms subside.
Exacerbation
When a disease recurs in all its severity.
Relapse
When a disease returns weeks or months after apparent cessation.
Complication
A disease or other abnormal state that develops in a person already inflicted with a disease.
Sequela
The aftermath of a particular disease.
Mortality
The measure of the number of deaths attributed to a given population over a certain period of time.
Morbidity
The measure of the disability and extent of illness caused by a disease.
Prevalence
The number of cases a disease occurring at a given time in a specified population.
Incidence
The number of new cases of a disease at a given time in a specified population.
Epidemiology
The study of occupancy, transmission, distribution, and control of disease.
Etiology
The cause of the disease.
Pathogenesis
The source or cause if a disease and its development.
Idiopathic
Cause of disease unknown.
Lesion
A damaged gene or enzyme, abnormal cells tissues, or organs.
Risk Factors
Something that increases the chance of developing a particular disease.
Treatment
Procedures for the cure or reduction of symptoms of disease.
palliative or symptomatic
treats just the symptoms.
curative
treats the causing agent
Immunity
The ability of the body to defend itself against infectious agents, foreign cells, and abnormal somatic cells.
Nonspecific Immunity defenses
Physical and chemical barriers, phagocytosis, Natural Killer Cells, Fever, Interferon, inflammation.
The Lymphatic System
A network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphoid organs that are used to fight off infections.
Lymphocytes
A type white blood cells produced from the Lymph Nodes.
Antigen
A foreign element that triggers the immune response.
Humoral Immunity
provides a defense against extracellular antigens such as bacterial toxins and cells and involves production of antibody molecules in response to antigens
Cell-mediated Immunity
provides a defense against viruses, abnormal cells, and other intracellular pathogens (responsible for rejecting tissue grafts and organ transplants)
Leokocytes
engulf and digest bacteria and other materials
Natural killer cells
recognizes and destroys abnormal cell membranes
complement
group of plasma proteins that assist in destruction of foreign cells
inflammation
the body's attempt to restore and maintain homeostasis after injury ; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat
Histamines and Kinins
cause of cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation
Lupus
Chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body. Affects women more between ages of 20-40
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
most common lupus; 70% of cases
Scleroderma
A disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue in connective tissues. Mostly affects women more in their 40s
immunoglobulins
antibody; 5 types
shock
blood pressure goes down, heart rate goes up
Sjögren's Syndrome
Chronic, slowly progressive autoimmune disease that affects the exocrine (moisture-producing) glands of the body.
Primary Sjögren's
___ Sjögren's is when the disease occurs by itself
Secondary Sjögren's
___ Sjögren's is accompanied by diseases such as JRA or lupus.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
A condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that destroys an individual's immune system. It is now considered a pandemic, spreading through contact with infected bodily fluids (used needles, sexual contact).
Active Immunity
Received via specific vaccination.
Autoimmunity
When an individual develops antibodies called autoantibodies that attack their own tissues or self-antigens.
Passive Immunity
A person is injected with pre-formed antibodies.
Cortisol
A hormone released when an individual is under stress. This decreases the production of antibodies.
Pathogen/ Infectious Agent
A disease-causing organism.
Contagious/ Communicable
A disease transmitted by human contact.
Endemic
When a disease occurs at low levels in a population.
Epidemic
A disease that occurs in unusually large numbers over a specific area.
Pandemic
An epidemic that has spread to several large areas worldwide.
Outbreak
When a disease suddenly occurs in a limited area and then subsides.
Notifiable Diseases
Diseases that are under constant surveillance in the United States.
Reservoir
The source of an infectious agent.
Carriers
Those who harbor an infectious disease but show no symptoms.
Horizontal Transmission
Diseases spread from human to human contact.
Vertical Transmission
Diseases transmitted from a mother to a fetus.
IgE
antibodies that are well known for their role in mediating allergic reactions
IgG/IgM
destructive cells
Delayed hypersensitivity
same mechanism as cell mediated immunity
Bacteria
A microscopic, single-called organism.
Protozoa
Single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms.
Fungi
Single-celled or multicelled organisms with cell walls that contain a special polysaccharide called Chitin.
Helminths
Is the most common worm infection in the United States. Worms infestation site is the anus/rectum
Ascariasis
A very common worm infection that causes strong itching sensation around the anus. Infections are usually asymptomatic.
Hookworms
Worms that hook onto skin and travel to the small intestine. Leading cause of anemia and protein malnutrition.
Nosocomial Infections
Hospital-acquired infections, infections contracted in a healthcare facility.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Antibiotics
Various drugs used to treat diseases caused by bacteria.
Emerging infectious diseases
Outbreaks of previously unknown or known diseases whose incidence has significantly increased in the past two decades.
Re-emerging infectious diseases
Known diseases that have reappeared after a significant decline in incidence.
NIAID
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
WHO
World Health Organization.
Tumor
Often a result of cancer, ______ are a lump of cells that can be harmful.
Neoplasm
New growth of a tumor.
Benign
Non-cancerous and localized.
Blood borne pathogens
microorganisms that are transmitted through blood
Mutation
A change in the biochemistry of a gene.
Oncogene
A gene that when mutated can result in the conversion of normal cells to cancer cells.
Etiology of cancer
Cancer can often be caused by exposure to carcinogens, environmental factors, or genetics.
Asbestos
Industrial chemicals (an occupational risk) that increase the risk of mesothelioma, lung, and other cancers.
prophylaxis
to prevent/the prevention of disease
Lung Cancer
The most common malignant disease worldwide, often caused by overuse of tobacco.
Histology
Cell structure abnormalities.
Gram +
only have a cell wall; colors purple
Gram -
has both cell membrane and cell wall; colors pink
measles
an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash.
mumps
an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands. Can Affect testicles uterus (fertility). No cure but MMR vaccine for prevention
rubella
"german measles" (3 day measles). Highly contagious and there are few or no symptoms other than a rash. MMR vaccine for prevention