Pathophysiology, Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering pathophysiology terms, cellular adaptations, types of necrosis, fluid dynamics, electrolyte imbalances, and acid-base disorders.

Pathophysiology

The study of functional or physiologic changes in the body that result from a disease process.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment regardless of external changes.

Diagnosis

The identification of a basic disease through evaluation of signs, symptoms, and laboratory tests.

Etiology

The causative factors in a particular disease, such as congenital defects, microorganisms, or trauma.

Idiopathic

Pertaining to a disease or condition whose cause is unknown.

Iatrogenic

Pertaining to a disease or adverse condition caused inadvertently by a treatment, procedure, or medical error.

Prophylaxis

Measures or treatments designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease.

Pathogenesis

The development or progression of a disease process in the body.

Prodromal period

The early stage in the development of a disease when signs are nonspecific or absent.

Signs

Objective, measurable indicators of disease observed by health professionals.

Symptoms

Subjective feelings or experiences reported by the patient, such as pain or nausea.

Syndrome

A collection of signs and symptoms that characterize a specific disorder or condition.

Precipitating factor

A specific condition or event that triggers an acute episode of a disease.

Sequelae

Potential unwanted outcomes or chronic conditions that follow an initial disease or injury.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disease in a given population within a specified time period.

Prevalence

The total number of new, old, or existing cases of a disease within a given population and time period.

Epidemic

A higher than expected number of cases of an infectious disease occurring within a specific area.

Pandemic

A global outbreak of an infectious disease involving increased cases across many regions of the world.

Atrophy

A decrease in the size of cells resulting in a reduced tissue mass.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of individual cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass.

Hyperplasia

An increased number of cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass.

Metaplasia

A cellular adaptation in which one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type.

Dysplasia

A tissue condition in which cells vary in size and shape, showing abnormal developmental patterns.

Anaplasia

A condition characterized by undifferentiated cells with variable nuclear and cell structures.

Neoplasia

New cellular growth, commonly referred to as a tumor, which can be benign or malignant.

Abnormal Cell Growth Patterns

Patterns of cellular adaptation and alteration including atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia, and neoplasia.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, which is a normal self-destructive occurrence in the body.

Ischemia

A deficit of oxygenated blood supply to tissue cells.

Hypoxia

A condition of reduced oxygen availability in body tissues.

Pyroptosis

A type of cell damage that results in cell lysis and releases chemical substances causing nearby inflammation.

Liquefaction necrosis

A form of necrosis where dead cells liquefy due to the release of cellular enzymes.

Coagulative necrosis

A form of necrosis where cell proteins are denatured and altered, causing tissue to retain a firm structure.

Fat necrosis

A process in which fatty tissue is broken down into fatty acids due to enzymatic action or injury.

Caseous necrosis

A form of coagulation necrosis in which a thick, yellowish, cheesy substance forms.

Infarction

An area of dead tissue cells caused by oxygen deprivation due to obstructed blood flow.

Dry Gangrene

A form of gangrene characterized by dried, shriveled, and blackened necrotic tissue resulting from severe ischemia.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The push pressure exerted by fluid within a compartment that forces water and solutes out across membranes.

Colloid Osmotic Pressure

The pull pressure exerted by plasma proteins (such as albumin) that draws fluid into body compartments.

Intracellular compartment (ICF)

The fluid compartment consisting of all fluid inside the body cells, accounting for approximately $40\%$ of body weight in adult males.

Extracellular compartment (ECF)

The body fluid compartment outside of cells, which includes intravascular fluid, interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and transcellular fluids.

Insensible losses

Unperceived daily water losses that occur through exhaled air in the lungs ($400\,\text{mL}$) and evaporation from the skin ($500\,\text{mL}$).

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

A hormone that regulates water reabsorption from the kidney tubules to control urine concentration and water output.

Aldosterone

A hormone that increases reabsorption of sodium and water in the kidney tubules, helping maintain extracellular fluid volume while promoting potassium excretion.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)

A hormone synthesized by myocardial cells in the atrium that aids in regulating fluid, sodium, and potassium balance.

Edema

An excessive accumulation of fluid in the interstitial compartment resulting in localized or generalized tissue swelling.

Pitting Edema

A condition where excess interstitial fluid moves aside under pressure, leaving a persistent depression or pit when the finger is removed.

Dehydration

A fluid deficit resulting from inadequate intake, excessive fluid loss, or both, which reduces extracellular volume.

Skin Turgor Test

A clinical assessment technique where pinching the skin evaluates hydration status; reduced elasticity indicates dehydration.

Third-Spacing

The shifting of fluid out of the blood vascular compartment into a body cavity or tissue space, where it becomes trapped and unusable.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium concentration below normal levels, causing reduced ECF osmotic pressure and fluid shifts into cells.

Hypernatremia

An abnormally high serum sodium concentration, leading to increased osmotic pressure in ECF and intracellular dehydration.

Hypokalemia

A serum potassium level below $3.5\,\text{mEq/L}$, which impairs cardiac repolarization and muscle activity.

Hyperkalemia

A serum potassium level exceeding $5\,\text{mEq/L}$, which can cause severe cardiac dysrhythmias and muscle paralysis.

Paresthesias

Abnormal sensory sensations, such as numbness or a 'pins and needles' feeling, associated with electrolyte imbalances.

Tetany

Skeletal muscle spasms caused by hypocalcemia due to increased permeability and excitability of nerve membranes.

Chvostek's sign

A clinical sign of hypocalcemia consisting of a facial muscle twitch elicited by tapping over the facial nerve.

Hypomagnesemia

A low serum magnesium concentration resulting from malabsorption, malnutrition, alcoholism, or diuretic use.

Hypermagnesemia

An elevated serum magnesium concentration typically occurring in renal failure, causing depressed neuromuscular function and reflexes.

Chloride Shift

The transport mechanism where bicarbonate ions ($\text{HCO}_3^-$) leave red blood cells to replace lost chloride ions ($\text{Cl}^-$) during gastric loss.

Serum pH Range

The normal range of arterial blood pH, maintained between $7.35$ and $7.45$ to preserve cellular enzymatic functions.

Respiratory Acidosis

An acid-base disturbance characterized by increased $\text{PCO}_2$ and elevated serum hydrogen ion concentration due to hypoventilation.

Metabolic Acidosis

An acid-base imbalance resulting from a decrease in serum bicarbonate ions ($\text{HCO}_3^-$) or excessive accumulation of metabolic acids.

Respiratory Alkalosis

An acid-base disorder caused by hyperventilation, which lowers $\text{PCO}_2$ and decreases serum hydrogen ion levels.

Metabolic Alkalosis

An acid-base disorder characterized by an increased serum bicarbonate ion concentration or loss of gastric hydrochloric acid.

Compensation

The physiological response by buffer systems, lungs, or kidneys to balance the relative proportion of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions without correcting the underlying cause.

Decompensation

A severe state occurring when compensatory mechanisms fail or are exceeded, causing serum pH to shift outside the survivable or normal range.