Pathology: Lesson 1 Intro to Pathology & Nature of Disease

How does Tabor's Psychopedic Medical Dictionary define disease?

A pathological condition in the mind or body.

According to the lecture, what is a condition marked by subjective complaints, a specific history, clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings?

Disease

What is the key difference between the concepts of disease and illness?

Disease is usually tangible or measurable, whereas illness is highly individual and personal.

What term describes the associated pain, suffering, or distress that is personal to the individual?

Illness

What is defined as a measure of specific changes associated with a pathological condition?

A disorder

What is an example of a disorder recognizable by an altered appearance of the lip and mouth?

Cleft lip

What distinguishes a pathological disorder from a normal state?

The alteration from normal

How are diseases such as the common cold recognizable?

By certain patterns and deviation from health

List five symptoms of the common cold mentioned in the transcript.

Runny nose, headache, sinus pressure, watery eyes, and a sore throat.

Which serious disease is used as an example of having a disease without experiencing any illness?

High blood pressure

What term refers to any unfavorable condition arising during the course of a disease?

Complications

How do complications manifest themselves?

As either signs or symptoms.

What are signs in the context of disease?

Objective disturbances produced by a disease that can only be observed by other people.

What are three examples of signs noted in the transcript?

Increased heart rate, change in color of the skin, and swelling around the mouth.

What are symptoms in the context of disease?

Subjective disturbances caused by the symptoms of a disease felt by the patient.

Provide four examples of symptoms mentioned in the lecture.

Pain, nausea, anxiety, and numbness or loss of sensation in the limbs.

What is the term for diseases specifically associated with fever?

Febrile diseases

What does the term lifespan refer to?

The oldest age in which a human being can survive.

What does the term longevity refer to?

A person's life expectancy.

What is the approximate average life expectancy or longevity for the world?

$66$ years of age.

Who was the oldest authenticated lifespan human, and at what age did she die?

Jean Louise Calment, who died at the age of $122$.

Which country is mentioned as having the highest longevity, and what is the age?

Japan at $80$.

What is the life expectancy in Zimbabwe according to the lecture?

$39$.

What is the difference between predisposing conditions and immediate causes?

Predisposing conditions make one more likely to develop illness, while immediate causes directly result in illness.

Why is age considered a predisposing condition for disease?

Certain diseases are more likely to occur among certain age groups, such as childhood measles or elderly Alzheimer's disease.

Which sex tends to outlive the other according to statistics?

Women tend to outlive men.

What are three statistical reasons why men tend to have shorter lives than women?

Accidents, gunshot wounds, and addiction related causes like alcoholism, tobacco, and drugs.

Why are men statistically more likely to suffer from fatal complications?

They are risk-taking and engage in more activity that leads to accidents.

What are the social predisposing conditions mentioned that are difficult to separate from race?

Occupation, nutritional status, economic status, and environment.

Why are people of low socioeconomic status predisposed to contract certain illnesses?

They are frequently forced to work in dangerous occupations and hazardous environments.

What was the title of the table on page 28 used to discuss predisposing conditions?

The 10 leading causes of death among American Indians, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics in $2017$.

List the four diseases highlighted as leading causes of death in the lecture transcript.

Heart disease, cancer, strokes, and diabetes.

What are the six categories of immediate causes of illness?

Trauma, physical agents, chemical agents, infectious agents, deficiencies of essential substances, and allergens.

What examples of trauma are provided in the notes?

Gunshot wounds, automobile accidents, and blunt force injuries.

What is an example of a blunt force injury?

Being struck with a baseball bat.

Which physical agent can cause hyperthermia and sunburns?

Temperature

What conditions can result from the physical agent of temperature during a snowstorm?

Hypothermia and frostbite.

What are two examples of how children are frequently accidentally poisoned by chemical agents?

Ingesting household cleaners or eating lead based paint chips.

What chemical agents might adolescents use for their intoxicating effects?

Glues or aerosols such as spray paint.

What is the definition of intoxication?

A state of being poisoned by a drug or toxic substance.

How are infectious agents spread among people?

From one person to another through various means.

Why are ranchers and animal workers at a higher risk for infectious diseases?

Due to infestation and exposure to disease causing microorganisms.

Where can disease-causing microorganisms be found in animal-related work?

In manure and animal hides.

A cleft lip is recognizable by alterations in which three areas?

Appearance of the lip, speech, and function of the mouth and nose.

If a disturbance is felt by the patient but not observable by others, what is it?

A symptom

If a disturbance can be observed by other people, such as a change in skin color, what is it?

A sign

According to Tabor's, what radiographic or laboratory findings might contribute to a diagnosis?

Disease findings

What is the primary factor that causes longevity to vary among countries?

Social causes

Predisposing conditions are not _____ causes of illness.

immediate

In addition to signs and symptoms, Tabor's defines disease as being marked by what?

A specific history

What was the primary belief of Rudolf Virchow regarding the origin of disease?

He believed disease was due to one diseased cell creating another diseased cell.

What is the premise of Virchow's Cellular Theory of Disease?

Changes to cells, whether originating from within the cell or outside the cell, are the cause of the disease.

In pathology, what are the three categories of death by cause?

1. Deaths due to disease-causing microorganisms. 2. Deaths from degenerative pathological disorders. 3. Deaths due to products of the social environment.

Provide examples of deaths caused by microorganisms as mentioned in the lecture.

AIDS, tuberculosis, and the flu.

List examples of degenerative pathological disorders mentioned in the transcript.

Heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, and liver disease.

Which social environment factors contribute to death according to the classification?

Suicide, murder, and car accidents.

What are the Greek roots of the word 'pathology' and their meanings?

'Logos' meaning the study of, and 'pathos' meaning suffering.

Define the term 'etiology'.

The underlying causes of disease.

Define the term 'pathogenesis'.

The mechanism that results in manifestations of signs and symptoms in the body.

Why must embalmers perform a case analysis prior to beginning each embalming?

To identify pathological disorders that can inhibit proper distribution of embalming chemicals and to determine specific embalming techniques.

What is the focus of general pathology?

The cellular and tissue responses to pathologic stimuli, dealing with widespread processes like inflammation and necrosis without reference to specific organs.

How is special pathology, also known as systemic pathology, defined?

It deals with the specific features of disease in relation to particular organs or organ systems.

Why is special fluid used when embalming a body with jaundice (often from liver cancer)?

To limit potential biliverdin conversion, which would turn the body green.

What are the five divisions of pathology outlined in the textbook?

Pathological gross, histopathology, surgical pathology, clinical pathology, physiological pathology, and medical legal pathology.

What is another term used for an autopsy?

Necropsy.

What is the first of the three important pieces of information an autopsy provides the community?

It confirms or alters the clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease.

How do autopsies contribute to medical advancement?

They advance medical knowledge and research.

What is the function of an autopsy in medical legal cases?

To assist in identification and determine circumstances of death for legal issues.

What describes the destruction of skin cells and sometimes underlying muscles or bones?

A burn.

Which groups of people are at an increased risk of burn injuries?

The young, the elderly, the physically challenged, and the mentally challenged.

What three environmental sources can cause burns?

Heat sources, cold sources, and chemicals.

Why do both the young and the elderly have a higher risk of severe burns?

They both have thin skin.

What is the purpose of the 'Rule of Nines'?

To calculate the percentage of the body surface area that has been burned.

According to the Rule of Nines, what is the surface area percentage for the head?

$$9\%$$

What is the Rule of Nines percentage for the front of the torso?

$$18\%$$

In the Rule of Nines, what percentage is assigned to each upper extremity?

$$9\%$$

What percentage of the body surface area is the back in the Rule of Nines?

$$18\%$$

What is the Rule of Nines percentage for each lower extremity?

$$18\%$$

What is the surface area percentage for genitals in the Rule of Nines?

$$1\%$$

Describe a first-degree burn.

A superficial burn where the skin is red without blisters, such as a minor sunburn.

What characterizes a second-degree burn?

The skin is moist, red, and blistered, also known as a partial thickness burn.

What are generally not involved in a second-degree burn?

The hair and sweat glands.

How does a second-degree burn typically heal compared to a third-degree burn?

Second-degree burns heal without scarring, while third-degree burns heal with a scar.

What are the physical characteristics of a third-degree burn lesion?

Necrosis of the epidermis and dermis, no blisters, and appearances of charring with brown or black discoloration.

Define a fourth-degree burn.

Incineration injuries extending deep into the tissues where the area is entirely consumed by fire.

What is a specific example of a fourth-degree burn mentioned in the embalming field?

Cremation.

How many total deaths from gunshot wounds were recorded in the United States in 2017?

$$39,773$$

How many of the 2017 gunshot deaths were classified as suicides?

$$23,854$$

How many homicides by gunshot occurred in the United States in 2017?

$$14,542$$

What are the three ways bullets produce tissue damage?

1. Laceration and crushing, 2. Cavitation, 3. Shock waves.

At what velocity do handguns primarily cause injury by crushing?

Low velocity bullets traveling less than $1,000\,\text{feet per second}$.

What is 'cavitation' in the context of gunshot wounds?

A cavity caused by the bullet path combined with forward acceleration of tissue that stretches out the wound.

How long do shock waves from a bullet typically last?

A few microseconds.

Which types of weapons have more wounding potential at greater distances?

Military and hunting rifles.

What is the most common cause of death associated with stab wounds?

Homicide.

Why are stab wounds usually referred to as incisions?

Because of the clean-cut through the skin.

What is the difference between an incision and a laceration?

Incisions have sharp, clean edges, while lacerations have jagged edges and result from blunt force tears.

What are 'Langer lines' in relation to stab wounds?

Natural lines in the skin; if a wound crosses them, the skin pulls apart at the edges to create a gaping wound.

What indicates a 'Y' or 'L' shaped stab wound?

Twisting of the weapon or movement of the victim during the stabbing.

Besides knives, what other devices can cause incised wounds?

Ice picks, scissors, screwdrivers, broken glass, and pens or pencils.