Geriatric Physiologic & Pathologic Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential geriatric physiologic changes, common conditions, and pharmacologic considerations.

Physiologic reserves

The body’s ability to maintain homeostasis during stress; maximized in aging, making older adults more vulnerable to disease and frailty.

Frailty

A geriatric syndrome marked by diminished strength, endurance, and reduced physiologic function that increases vulnerability to adverse outcomes.

Xerosis

Abnormally dry skin in older adults due to decreased sebaceous and sweat gland activity.

Seborrheic keratoses

Benign, soft, wart-like skin lesions that look ‘pasted on,’ commonly on the back and trunk.

Senile purpura

Non-palpable purple patches on forearms/hands of adults >65 after minor trauma; benign and self-resolving.

Lentigines (liver spots)

Sun-induced tan-brown macules with moth-eaten borders on hands/forearms; benign.

Stasis dermatitis

Eczema of lower legs caused by impaired venous circulation, often hyper-pigmented, scaly, or ulcerated.

Actinic keratosis

Sun-related scaly plaque that is a precancerous form of squamous cell carcinoma.

Presbyopia

Age-related loss of lens elasticity causing difficulty focusing on near objects; onset ~40s.

Arcus senilis (corneal arcus)

Gray-white peripheral corneal ring from lipid deposits; common with age, but in <40 may signal hyperlipidemia.

Cataract

Lens opacity producing blurred vision, glare, and loss of red reflex; major cause of blindness worldwide.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Acute rise in intraocular pressure from blocked drainage angle; presents with eye pain, halos, nausea; ophthalmic emergency.

Open-angle glaucoma

Chronic slow loss of peripheral visual fields due to elevated intraocular pressure with open drainage angle.

Macular degeneration

Degeneration of retinal macula causing central vision loss; leading cause of irreversible blindness in adults >60.

Presbycusis

Sensorineural hearing loss of aging characterized by high-frequency loss and difficulty with speech in noise.

Isolated systolic hypertension

Elevated systolic but normal diastolic pressure in elders, caused by arterial stiffness and thickened intima.

Orthostatic hypotension

Drop in blood pressure on standing due to less sensitive baroreceptors and autonomic response in geriatrics.

S4 heart sound (in elderly)

Low-frequency atrial gallop that can be normal in persons >75 without heart disease, reflecting stiff LV.

Forced vital capacity (FVC)

Maximal volume exhaled forcefully after full inspiration; declines with age along with FEV1.

Residual volume

Air left in lungs after maximal exhalation; increases in older adults due to loss of elastic recoil.

Mucociliary clearance

Removal of mucus by cilia; less efficient in elders, raising infection risk.

Creatinine clearance

Measurement of renal filtration that declines with age even when serum creatinine appears normal.

Nephrotoxic agents

Substances (e.g., NSAIDs) that can damage kidneys; risk heightened in elderly due to reduced renal mass.

Residual urine

Volume remaining in bladder after voiding; increases with aging because of lower compliance and flow.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

Age-related prostate enlargement causing urinary hesitancy, weak stream, and higher retention risk.

Urinary incontinence

Involuntary leakage of urine; prevalence rises with age, especially in postmenopausal women.

Osteoarthritis

Degenerative joint disease with morning stiffness that improves with activity; common after 40.

Osteoporosis

Loss of bone mass and strength, increasing fracture risk; vertebral compression leads to kyphosis and height loss.

Kyphosis

Exaggerated thoracic spinal curvature from vertebral compression fractures associated with osteoporosis.

Sarcopenia

Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and performance beginning around age 50.

Aspiration risk (elderly)

Greater likelihood of inhaling food/liquid due to weakened oropharyngeal muscles and delayed swallow.

Diverticula

Outpouchings of the colon wall prevalent in older adults, sometimes leading to diverticulitis.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) decline

Reduced hepatic enzyme activity in aging, slowing drug metabolism by 20–40%.

Peripheral insulin resistance

Reduced tissue responsiveness to insulin; mild form commonly seen in older adults with higher insulin levels.

Adaptive immunity

Antigen-specific immune response (T & B cells) that declines with age, reducing vaccine efficacy.

Innate immunity

Non-specific first-line defense (e.g., neutrophils, macrophages) less affected by aging than adaptive immunity.

Beers Criteria

American Geriatrics Society list of medications potentially inappropriate for older adults.

Polypharmacy

Use of multiple medications, common in elders and linked to adverse drug events and cognitive decline.

Anticholinergic drugs (geriatric effects)

Medications causing constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, dry mouth, and orthostatic hypotension in elders.