Pathophysiology, Cellular Regulation, Stress, Environmental Hazards, and Cancer

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from pathophysiology lecture notes covering general terminology, cellular adaptations, stress responses, environmental hazards, and cancer diagnostics.

Pathophysiology

The study of disease processes and how they alter normal body function and homeostasis.

Homeostasis

The state of maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Risk Factor

Anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease.

Sign

An objective manifestation of disease that can be seen, felt, heard, touched, or smelled by an examiner.

Symptom

A subjective health indication reported directly by the patient.

Etiology

The cause or causes of a disease process.

Idiopathic

Describing a disease or condition that has an unknown cause.

Atrophy

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

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of an individual cell resulting in a larger tissue mass.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells in a tissue.

Metaplasia

A cellular adaptation where a mature cell type is replaced by another mature cell type.

Dysplasia

Disorganized cell growth resulting in abnormal cellular size, shape, and arrangement.

Anaplasia

A condition characterized by undifferentiated cells with loss of structural and functional differentiation.

Neoplasia

Uncontrolled cell proliferation resulting in new growth.

Apoptosis

Programmed, regulated cell death.

Necrosis

Unexpected cell death resulting from acute cell injury or disease.

Gangrene

Death of body tissue caused by a severe lack of blood supply.

Primary Prevention

Healthcare strategies aimed at preventing the occurrence of disease.

Secondary Prevention

Healthcare measures designed to screen for and identify disease quickly.

Tertiary Prevention

Healthcare interventions focused on managing complicated diseases and maximizing quality of life.

Stress

A generalized or systemic response triggered by internal or external changes (stressors) affecting overall well-being.

Stressor

Any physical, psychological, or environmental factor that causes stress to an organism.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) - Stage 1: Alarm

The initial stage of stress response where the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated to trigger the fight-or-flight response.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) - Stage 2: Resistance

The stage of stress response where the parasympathetic nervous system attempts to return the body to normal, maintaining body systems via elevated hormone levels.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) - Stage 3: Exhaustion

The stage of stress response where body resources are completely depleted, leading to potential long-term damage.

Acute Stress

A heightened state of tension that passes quickly.

Chronic Stress

High levels of stress sustained over a prolonged period of time.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters produced by the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood enhancers.

Bronchodilation

The expansion or widening of the bronchi and bronchioles to increase airflow into the lungs.

Lipolysis

The metabolic breakdown of fats and other lipids into fatty acids for energy utilization.

Adaptive Coping

Beneficial behaviors or responses that help an individual cope effectively with stress.

Maladaptive Coping

Counterproductive or harmful behaviors or responses that damage an individual's well-being.

Distress

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain representing a negative form of stress.

Heat Exhaustion

A hyperthermic condition characterized by dizziness, fainting, intense thirst, excessive sweating, rapid weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, pale clammy skin, and muscle cramps.

Heat Stroke

A life-threatening hyperthermic condition characterized by headache, confusion, elevated body temperature, absence of sweating, rapid strong pulse, red hot skin, and possible loss of consciousness.

Cancer

A collection of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and abnormal cell proliferation resulting from DNA damage.

TNM Staging System

A cancer classification system based on primary tumor size (T), regional lymph node involvement (N), and distant metastasis (M).

CAUTION Warning Signs of Cancer

An acronym listing cancer warning signs: Change in bowel/bladder habits, A sore that does not heal, Unusual bleeding/discharge, Thickening/lump in breast or elsewhere, Indigestion/difficulty swallowing, Obvious change in wart/mole, Nagging cough/hoarseness.

Endoscopic Biopsy

A biopsy technique that utilizes an endoscope to sample tissues from internal organs.

Needle Biopsy

A minimally invasive diagnostic procedure using a thin needle to extract tissue samples for examination.

Surgical Biopsy

An invasive diagnostic procedure involving the surgical removal of part or all of a tumor for pathological analysis.