Patho Basic Concepts

Homeostasis

maintenance of constant conditions in the body’s

internal environment

Cells need a constant supply of ___ and exist in ___

nutrients, H2O, O2

narrow pH & temperature range

Stressors

challenges to the body’s balance

Compensation

The return to homeostasis after being challenged by a stressor

similar words: adaptation, healing, etc

Compensation is achieved by the use of

control mechanisms/compensatory mechanisms

Explain the compensatory response to the “normal” daily stressor: elevated external temperature

Body temperature rises —> hypothalamus senses the elevated core

temperature and sends a signal to the skin to

produce sweat —> heat loss occurs through

evaporation

Dilation of the superficial blood vessels also occurs—> as “heated blood” circulates from core to the periphery—> heat loss occurs through radiation (heat removed from body into surrounding air)

If you’ve lost a lot of blood (massive bleeding) or water

(dehydration)

heart rate would increase

periphery arteries would constrict, shunting whatever blood volume is left to the central areas—brain, heart, lungs, kidneys.

*Expect to find cool hands and feet

Decompensation

failure to compensate, adapt, heal, etc.

if the control mechanisms are “exhausted”-- compensation can deteriorate either rapidly or slowly into decompensation

Disease

harmful condition of the body (and/or mind);

Disorder

disturbance in the healthiness of the body

Syndrome

a collection of symptoms

Risk Factors

factors that or contribute to and/or increase probability that

a dz will occur …”setting the stage”

ex: heredity, age, ethnicity, life style, and environment

Precipitating Factors

a condition or event that triggers a pathologic event or disorder ….the “kick-off

ex: an asthma attack can be precipitated by exertion

Idiopathic Disease

diseases with unidentifiable causes

Iatrogenic Disease

Disease as a result of a medical treatment or procedure

Nosocomial Disease

Disease as a result of being in hospital environment

Clinical Manifestations

The demonstration of the presence of a sign and/or symptom of a disease

Malaise

general feeling of discomfort, illness that’s cause is difficult to identify

Acute S&S

fairly rapid appearance of S&S of disease (over a day

to several days); usually last only a short time

Chronic S&S

develop more slowly; S&S are often insidious and last longer

and/or wax and wane over months or years.

Remissions

periods when S&S disappear or diminish significantly (wane)

Exacerbations

periods when S&S become worse or more severe (wax);

• exacerbate: to provoke, to make worse

The body “core” refers to

the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys

Central

usually refers to the problem, situation, etc, that is occurring

towards the center, or “core,” of the body

When someone loses a lot of blood, the body…

shunts most of the remaining blood away from non-essential areas (gut, hands, feet) so essential organs are oxygenated (most of the volume of blood ends up circulating centrally

Proximal

closer to the center of the body

Distal

farther from the center of the body

can also mean downstream

Peripheral

refers to problem, situation, etc., that is occurring towards the outer

parts of the body, away from core

If we lose a lot of blood, the blood vessels of

the periphery often constrict so that not a lot of blood can

circulate into those areas…THEN

More blood goes to the central areas such as the

heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys—blood has been shunted

to those areas

Shock is caused by ____

S&S of shock are ____

cause: low blood perfusion to the cells=inadequate oxygen levels leading to abnormal cell function

S&S: low blood pressure and/or confusion from not getting enough blood/O2 to the brain

Prognosis

predicted outcome of a dz based on certain factors

Prognosis factors

• the usual course of the disease

• individual characteristics: age and comorbidity

Comorbidities

two or more coexisting medical conditions; this increases chance of poor prognosis

Sequela

“aftermath” of a disease

any abnormal condition that follows and is the result of disease, injury, or treatment; synonym = complications

Possible sequela of chicken pox

scars/shingles

Possible sequela of stroke

hemiparesis

Pathologic

relating to, caused by, or indicative of disease

Physiologic

relating to the normal, healthy functioning of an organism's body and its systems

contrasting with pathological (diseased) states

Congenital

Conditions or defects that are present from birth

Etiology

the cause of a disease; includes all factors that contribute to development of disease