Patho 8/25 Class Notes

Physiologic Adaptation

The body’s ability to adjust to changes to maintain homeostasis

• example: Increased heart rate during exercise

Physiologic Integrity

The normal function and structural wholeness of the body.

• example: Intact skin and properly functioning organs.

Pathophysiology

Disruption of normal processes due to disease or injury.

• example: Asthma causing airway narrowing due to inflammation.

Atrophy

Reduced size of an organ or
tissue resulting from a decrease
in cell size and number.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of cells,
resulting in an increase in organ
size.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of
cells in a tissue or organ

Metaplasia

A reversible change where one
adult cell type is replaced by
another, often as an adaptive
response to chronic irritation or
inflammation

Dysplasia

Abnormal development of cells
within a tissue

Anaplasia

Loss of cellular differentiation
and organization resulting in
cells that appear abnormal and
immature

Neoplasia

New growth of tissue or tumor
either benign or malignant

Ischemia

reduced blood flow which leads to hypoxia

Physical injury

heat, cold, pressure

Chemical toxins

drugs, pollutants, ETOH, nicotine

Apoptosis

trigger: Normal signals or mild damage

process: cell shrinks, DNA breaks, cell packages itself

inflammation: no

example: Red blood cells only live for about 120 days. After that they are broken down in the liver and spleen

Necrosis

trigger: Necrosis: Major injury or disease

process: cell swells and bursts

inflammation: Yes

example: You wake up with a swollen pimple – the area is red and swollen

Pyroptosis

trigger: Pyroptosis: Intracellular infection (often bacteria)

process: cell explodes, releases enzymes and cytokines

inflammation: intense

example: A patient is bedbound and hasn’t been turned regularly. Over time, pressure over the sacrum cuts off blood flow to the skin, causing an open sore

Liquefaction Necrosis

Dead cells liquefy under the influence of certain cell enzymes

example: Wet gangrene; Brain tissue death after a stroke; Fungal infections

Coagulative Necrosis

Cell proteins are altered or denatured; Cells retain some form for a time after death

example: Dry gangrene; Heart attack; Kidney infarction

Fat Necrosis

Fatty tissue is broken down into fatty acids

example: Pancreatitis

Caseous Necrosis

Thick, yellowish, "cheesy" appearance of dead tissue

example: Tuberculosis

Prevalence

• Total number of people

• Specific point in time

Incidence

• Number of new cases

• During a specific time period