Pathophysiology and Reproductive Health Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering pain physiology, sleep, neuro-pediatrics, endocrine disorders, and reproductive health based on nursing lecture notes.

A-delta ($A\text{δ}$) fibers

Small, lightly myelinated nerve fibers that transmit fast, sharp pain impulses with quick conduction.

C fibers

Unmyelinated nerve fibers that transmit slow, dull, achy pain.

Pain Threshold

The point at which a stimulus is perceived as painful.

Pain Tolerance

The maximum intensity or duration of pain that a person is willing to endure before initiating pain-relief measures.

Visceral Pain

Poorly localized, dull, or aching pain originating from internal organs, typically transmitted by afferent C fibers.

Somatic Pain

Sharp and well-localized pain originating from skin, joints, and muscles, often transmitted via A-delta fibers.

Paradoxical Sleep

Another term for REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, where the brain's EEG resembles a waking state despite the individual being deeply asleep with muscle atonia.

Fever Pathophysiology

A complex physiologic response to pyrogens involving the hypothalamus and immune mediators; it is an incorrect statement that it should be eliminated as quickly as possible.

Folate

The nutrient supplemented prior to conception and in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Encephalocele

A neural tube defect involving the herniation of the brain and meninges through a defect in the skull.

Myelomeningocele

A protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through a vertebral defect.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, leading to an inability to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine.

Obstructive Hydrocephalus

In infants, this condition is most commonly caused by the stenosis of the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius, which blocks CSF flow.

SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH Secretion)

A disorder characterized by excessive ADH leading to water retention and the dilution of serum sodium (hyponatremia).

Acromegaly

A condition of growth hormone excess in adults (after puberty) characterized by enlarged hands/feet, coarse hair, and an enlarged tongue.

Hypothyroidism

A condition often related to iodine deficiency resulting in low $T_3$ and $T_4$, slowed metabolism, and fatigue.

Type 2 Diabetes

A condition best described as insulin resistance, where tissues cannot effectively respond to insulin.

Microvascular Complications of Diabetes

Chronic hyperglycemia leading to the thickening of capillary basement membranes and cell hyperplasia, resulting in retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.

Cushing Syndrome

Signs of hypercortisolism including truncal obesity, thin extremities, easy bruising, "buffalo hump," "moon face," and acne; often linked to glucocorticoid use.

Amenorrhea

The absence of menstruation which can be clinically caused by a failure to ovulate, pregnancy, or hormonal imbalances.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

A condition requiring hyperandrogenism and anovulation for diagnosis; visible cysts on ultrasound are not mandatory.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Infection and inflammation of the upper genital tract that causes permanent changes and scarring to the ciliated epithelium of the fallopian tubes.

Cystocele

The descent of the posterior bladder and trigone into the vaginal canal.

Leiomyomas

Benign smooth muscle tumors of the myometrium, commonly referred to as uterine fibroids.

Endometriosis

A condition caused by the theory of retrograde menstruation, where endometrial tissue passes into the peritoneal cavity.

Orchitis

Inflammation of the testis, most commonly caused by the mumps virus in postpubertal males.

Cryptorchidism

A history of undescended testes, which increases the risk of testicular cancer and infertility.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Enlargement of the prostate gland that causes urinary obstruction symptoms by the compression of the urethra.

Priapism

A prolonged, painful erection that can be associated with sickle cell disease or cocaine abuse.