Mechanisms of Disease Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the terminology, pathogenic organisms, cancer classifications, and inflammatory response concepts from Chapter 6: Mechanisms of Disease.

Health

Physical, mental, and social well-being—not merely the absence of disease.

Disease

An abnormality in body function that threatens health.

Etiology

Study of the factors that cause a disease.

Idiopathic

Refers to a disease with an unknown cause.

Signs and symptoms

Objective and subjective abnormalities associated with a disease.

Pathogenesis

Pattern of a disease's development.

Epidemiology

The study of occurrence, distribution, and transmission of diseases in human populations.

Endemic diseases

Diseases native to a local region.

Epidemics

Occur when a disease affects many people at the same time.

Pandemics

Widespread, perhaps global, epidemics.

Pathophysiology

Study of underlying physiological aspects of disease.

Viruses

Microscopic, intracellular parasites that consist of a nucleic acid core with a protein coat.

Prions

Pathogenic protein molecules that convert normal proteins to abnormal proteins, causing abnormal functions that produce disease.

Bacteria

Tiny cells without nuclei.

Aerobic bacteria

Bacteria that require oxygen to grow.

Anaerobic bacteria

Bacteria that require no oxygen to grow.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacterial cells.

Cocci

Round bacterial cells.

Spores

Nonreproducing forms of bacteria that resist unfavorable environmental conditions.

Fungi

Simple organisms similar to plants but lacking chlorophyll.

Yeasts

Small, single-celled fungi.

Molds

Large, multicellular fungi.

Protozoa

Large one-celled organisms that have organized nuclei.

Amebas

Protozoa that possess pseudopodia.

Flagellates

Protozoa that possess flagella.

Ciliates

Protozoa that possess cilia.

Sporozoa (coccidia)

Protozoa that enter cells during one phase of a two-part life cycle and are borne by vectors during the other phase.

Pathogenic Animals

Large complex multicellular organisms that parasitize or otherwise damage human tissues or organs.

Nematodes

Roundworms.

Platyhelminths

Flatworms and flukes.

Arthropods

Organisms that are often vectors of disease, including parasitic mites, ticks, lice, fleas, and biting or stinging insects or spiders.

Antibiotics

Natural compounds derived from living organisms that destroy or inhibit pathogens.

Antiviral drugs

Drugs that inhibit viral reproduction and slow down progression of viral infections.

Neoplasms (tumors)

Abnormal growths of cells.

Benign tumors

Tumors that remain localized.

Malignant tumors

Tumors that spread, forming secondary tumors.

Metastasis

Process where cells leave a primary tumor and start a secondary tumor at a new location.

Papilloma

A benign epithelial fingerlike projection tumor.

Adenoma

A benign epithelial glandular tumor.

Nevus

A small, pigmented benign epithelial tumor.

Lipoma

A benign connective tissue adipose (fat) tumor.

Osteoma

A benign connective tissue bone tumor.

Chondroma

A benign connective tissue cartilage tumor.

Carcinomas

Malignant epithelial tumors.

Melanoma

A carcinoma involving melanocytes.

Adenocarcinoma

A glandular cancer.

Sarcomas

Connective tissue cancers.

Lymphoma

A lymphatic cancer.

Osteosarcoma

A bone cancer.

Myeloma

A bone marrow tumor.

Fibrosarcoma

Cancer of fibrous tissue.

Hyperplasia

Growth of too many cells.

Anaplasia

Development of undifferentiated cells.

Carcinogens

Chemicals that alter genetic activity.

Staging

Classifying tumors by size and extent of spread.

Grading

Assessing the likely pattern of a tumor's development.

Cachexia

A syndrome including appetite loss, weight loss, and general weakness.

Chemotaxis

The movement in which inflammation mediators attract white blood cells to an injury site.