Pathophysiology & Cellular Regulation

Flashcards relating to pathophysiology, genetics, stress, environment and cancer

What is the definition of pathophysiology?

The study of illness in the human body that explains changes which alter homeostasis and cause signs/symptoms of the disease

Give three examples of body systems discussed in the notes.

Cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal

What measurable data collected through testing may be necessary for diagnosis?

Blood or body fluid to measure the amount of a substance present, or tissue/cells to collect biopsies or secretions to examine for abnormalities

What are three examples of modifiable prevention methods for health alterations?

Well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction

Define genetics.

The study of the expression of traits passed on through generations (heredity)

Define genome.

Represents all of your DNA

What do alleles on each gene determine?

Eye color or hair color

How many pairs of chromosomes are there in total?

23

List three examples of autosomal-dominant disorders

Adult polycystic kidney disease, Huntington chorea, Marfan syndrome

List three examples of multifactorial disorders

Cleft lip and palate, clubfoot, congenital heart disease

What does autosomal dominant mean?

Presence of the defect in only one allele produces expression; an affected parent has 50% probability of passing disorder to child regardless of child’s gender; no carriers: unaffected persons do not transmit the disorder

What does autosomal recessive mean?

Both parents must pass on defective gene to produce an affected child; male and female children are affected equally; carriers: carry one disordered gene and one normal gene, shows no clinical signs

Give three examples of prenatal screening & testing.

Ultrasonography, maternal blood tests, amniocentesis

What is Down Syndrome also known as?

Trisomy 21

Explain Complete Trisomy 21

Extra chromosome is present in all cells in the person’s body/ Can alter fetal brain and body development

Explain Translocation Trisomy 21

Extra chromosome 21 attaches to a different chromosome / May be complete or partial / Can impact fetal brain and body development

Explain Mosaic Trisomy 21

Some cells have the extra chromosome, while others have 46 / May have fewer characteristics, but still can be impacted fetal brain and body development

What is the most common rick factor for down syndrome?

Increased maternal age

List three symptoms of down syndrome.

Small head at birth, flattened nose and face, slanting eyes

Define cellular metabolism.

The sum of all chemical changes that take place in the cell through which energy and basic components are provided for essential processes including the synthesis of new molecules and the breakdown and removal of others

Define atrophy.

Decrease in the size of cells leading to reduced tissue mass

Define hypertrophy.

Increase in the size of cells to an enlarged tissue mass

Define hyperplasia.

Increase in the number of cells leading to enlarged tissue mass

Define metaplasia.

Replacement of one mature cell type with another mature cell type

Define dysplasia.

Change in the size, shape and reproduction of cells

Define anaplasia.

Cells that are undifferentiated, have variable cell structures, and many miotic figures

Define neoplasia.

Means new cell growth and usually refers to cancer

Define apoptosis.

Active programmed death of a cell

Define necrosis.

Passive death of a cell due to irreversible damage

Define ischemia.

Decreased oxygen reaching the cells, tissues, or organs

What happens to cells when deprived of oxygen?

Produce less ATP for energy / Sodium-potassium pump stops working / Anaerobic glycolysis begins producing ATP-lactic acid builds up & leads to acidosis

Define infarction.

An area of cells that have died

What is a stressor?

Any factor that causes significant change in the body or environment

List the three stages of stress response.

Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

What occurs during stage 1 (alarm) in stress response?

Initial response to stressà hypothalamus, sympathetic nervous system and adrenal glands activated

What occurs during stage 2 (resistance) in stress response?

Stress lasts more than a few hours→ hormone levels are elevated

What occurs during stage 3 (exhaustion) in stress response?

Body is unable to continue responding to the stressor or damage occurs

Give 3 examples of physical stressors.

Pain, exposure to heat or cold, medical procedure or surgery

Give 3 examples of psychological stressors.

Taking a test, fear, anxiety

Give three examples of long term health effects of chronic stress.

Anxiety & depression, memory/concentration impairment, heart disease

List 3 examples of environmental hazards.

Radiation hazards, noise hazards, waterborne hazards

List three examples of physical agents.

Temperature, radiation, noise

List three examples of chemical agents.

Lead, pesticides, carbon monoxide

List 3 biological agents.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites

What are ways to prevent environmental hazards on a primary level?

Educate to reduce environment hazards; educate groups, advocate for safe air/water

Which environmental hazard led to significant increases in childhood cancer in Hinkley, CA?

Groundwater contamination

What prefix and suffix combine to name tumors?

Root and suffix

Compare and contrast a benign tumor from a malignant tumor.

Benign: Differentiated cells, encapsulated. Malignant: Undifferentiated, nonfunctional cells, not encapsulated and able to metastasize

What does staging a tumor mean?

Based on "TNM"/ Primary Tumor (T): the size of the primary tumor and spread into nearby tissue/ Regional Lymph Nodes (N): describes the spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes/ Distant Metastasis (M): spread of cancer to other parts of the body

What are the ABCs of cancer prevention?

Change in bowel and bladder habits/ A sore that does not heal/ Unusual bleeding or discharge from anywhere/ Thickening or a lump in the breast or elsewhere/ Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing/ Obvious change in a wart or a mole/Nagging cough or hoarseness

Give three examples of lung cancer risk factors.

Smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution

Give three examples of risk factors for breast cancer.

Female, age over 40 and again over 60, genetics

What are the different stages of breast cancer?

Stage 0: in situ; they remain in the origin area with no signs of spreading/ Stage 1: invasive and started to spread to fatty breast tissue or to lymph nodes; tumor growth is small or nonexistent/ Stage 2: invasive; tumor may have grown in size and spread to additional lymph nodes/ Stage 3: invasive; spread to lymph nodes around collar bone and deep within breast; tumor may continue to grow and spread/Stage 4: invasive and spread beyond localized areas: lungs, bone, liver, brain

What is leukemia?

A group of blood cancers where a genetic mutation causes the precursor blood cells to lose their ability to differentiate into mature blood cells

What is the difference between acute vs chronic leukemia?

Acute Leukemia: Many undifferentiated, nonfunctioning cells in bone marrow and circulation/Sudden onset with discernible complications/ Chronic Leukemia: Higher percentage of mature cells in bone marrow and circulation/ Gradual onset with no symptoms for a few years