PATHOLOGY [COMPS]

decrease in, such as in pain

Abatement

an excoriation, removal of the epidermis of skin or mucous membrane (caused by a superficial injury)

Abrasion

localized accumulation of pus surrounded by inflammatory tissue. (circumscribed collection of pus)

Abscess

condition in which there is an excessive proportion of acid in the blood

Acidosis

a disease that presents itself after birth. Is not congenital

Acquired disease

hyperfunction of pituitary gland after ossification has been completed (after puberty) which causes enlargement and thickening of skull bones and facial features

Acromegaly

a disease with a rapid onset and short duration

Acute

affects the adrenal glands (results when insufficient cortisol is produced). Bronze discoloration of the skin is characteristic

Addison’s Disease

a neoplasm formed by glandular epithelium. (a tumor in a gland)

Adenoma

having hypersensitivity to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction

Allergies

a pre-senile dementia occurring usually in persons over 60 years of age; thought to be associated with neurofibril degeneration. (the degenerative nervous system disorder of unknown origin that destroys the neurons in the cortex or the brain)

Alzheimer’s Disease

congenital absence of one or more limbs (the arms or legs did not develop and are missing)

Amelia

generalized massive edema in subcutaneous tissue

Anasarca

a decrease in the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), hemoglobin or both

Anemia

a localized dilation of a blood vessel

Aneurysm

a swelling or tumor due to dilatation of the blood vessels (hemangioma) or lymphatics (lymphangioma)

Angioma

deficient blood oxygen supplies to tissues

Anoxia

failure of a tissue or an organ to develop normally

Aplasia

disease of the arteries resulting in thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls (Hardening of the arteries)

Arteriosclerosis

accumulation of free serous fluid in the abdominal cavity

Ascites

inflammation of an artery or arteries. (Usually chronic)

Arteritis

loss of consciousness from deficient (inadequate intake of) oxygen. (a lack of oxygen resulting from an airway obstruction)

Asphyxia

a form of arteriosclerosis marked by the deposition of lipids in the inner layer of arterial walls. (Results in hardening of the arteries)

Atherosclerosis

a wasting, decrease in size of an organ or tissue

Atrophy

a postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause of death or pathological condition

Autopsy (necropsy)

the red pigment in the bile

Bilirubin

the green pigment in the bile

Biliverdin

pre-embalming purge as a result of a fracture of the skull, a surgical procedure in the cranial cavity or a trauma. It is possible for gas (a type of purge) to build up in the cranium and travel along the nerve routes to distend such tissues as the eyelids

Brain purge

severe form of malnutrition

Cachexia

general term for a malignant tumor

Carcinoma

several communicating boils of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with the production and discharge of pus and dead tissue

Carbuncle

the number one cause of death in the U.S.

Cardiovascular Disease

formation of cavities in an organ or tissue; frequently seen in some forms of tuberculosis

Cavitation

a blow; hence a sudden attack, as a sunstroke, a paralytic or apoplectic stroke or apoplexy

Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)

primary lesion, initial sclerosis, syphilitic sore, the first manifestation of syphilis

Chancre

Asphyxia as a result of an obstruction in the air passage. (Airway obstruction)

Choking

inflammation of the gallbladder

Cholecystitis

a disease with a more or less slow onset and long duration

Chronic

a degeneration or atrophy of the liver with lumpy regeneration of connective tissue

Cirrhosis

congenitally malformed palate with a fissure along the midline

Cleft palate

study of disease by means of body secretions, excretions, and other body fluids performed in the laboratory in the diagnosis of a disease

Clinical pathology

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon (large intestine)

Colitis

a disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another

Communicable

an unfavorable condition arising during the course of disease

Complication

the immediate and temporary disturbance of brain function (temporary loss of consciousness usually caused by trauma to the head)

Concussion

a disease present at the time of birth

Congenital

accumulation of an excess of blood or tissue fluid in a body part

Congestion

a bruise, often accompanied with swelling

Contusion

the common cold or rhinitis – (inflammation of the nasal passages) affects the respiratory system

Coryza

a congenital condition due to hypothyroidism resulting in mental retardation

Cretinism

results when the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of cortisol. (excessive secretion of adrenal cortical hormones usually due to hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex or to a functioning adrenal adenoma.)

Cushing’s disease

condition in which the descent of a testis into the scrotum is arrested at some point in the normal path

Cryptorchism

bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane due to lack of oxygen (seen in diseases affecting the lungs – such as pneumonia)

Cyanosis

a sac within or on the body surface containing air or fluid

Cyst

inflammation of the bladder, especially the urinary bladder. (Infection of the bladder)

Cystitis

chemical reaction involving breaking of chemical bonds; forms two or more smaller molecule compounds from larger molecule compounds

Decomposition

type of ulcer (open sore) that occurs when people are bed-bound from contact pressure

Decubitus ulcer

disease due to lack of dietary or metabolic substance

Deficiency

the deterioration of tissues with corresponding functional impairment as a result of disease or injury. (Deterioration and loss of function in a tissue or organ)

Degeneration

loss of moisture from body tissue which may occur antemortem or postmortem

Dehydration

a term used to designate two diseases, diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus results from a defect in the Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas which stops producing insulin which results in high blood sugar. (characterized by excessive thirst and polyuria)

Diabetes

the term denoting the naming of the disease or syndrome; to recognize the nature of a disease

Diagnosis

the condition of the heart being enlarged, occurring normally, artificially, or as a result of disease

Dilatation

A pathological condition of the body that presents a group of clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory findings peculiar to it and that sets the condition apart as an abnormal entity differing from other normal or pathological body states

Disease

condition that results when the body part that dies had little blood and remains aseptic and occurs when the arteries but not the veins are obstructed (necrosis of tissue due to a reduction in arterial blood supply to a body part that is not infected with bacteria.)

Dry gangrene (ischemic necrosis)

abnormal development of tissue

Dysplasia

small, non-elevated hemorrhagic patch; extravasation of blood into a tissue (another name for a bruise)

Ecchymosis

the implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the normal one in the uterine cavity (usually within the fallopian tube resulting in a tubal pregnancy)

Ectopic pregnancy

abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue or body cavities

Edema

excessive wasting away of the body

Emaciation

free floating object in the bloodstream (may be a clot, air, or a clump of bacteria)

Embolism (Embolus)

pus in the pleural cavity

Empyema

inflammation of the brain

Encephalitis

a disease that is continuously present in a community

Endemic

inflammation of the inner membrane lining of the heart

Endocarditis

inflammation of the lining of the cervix of the uterus

Endocervicitis

the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus, such as on the lining of the abdominal cavity

Endometriosis

Inflammation of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus)

Endometritis

inflammation of the small intestine

Enteritis

a disease that is currently in higher than normal numbers, affecting a large number of people in the same area at one time

Epidemic

a chronic neurogenic disease marked by sudden alterations in consciousness and frequently by convulsions

Epilepsy

bleeding from the nose

Epistaxis

increase in red blood cells

Erythrocytosis

inflammation of the esophagus

Esophagitis

the study of the cause of disease

Etiology

increase in severity of a disease

Exacerbation

loss of blood to the point where life can no longer be sustained

Exsanguination

the fluid that oozes through the tissues into a cavity or to the surface; usually a result of inflammation

Exudate

term associated with fever, pyretic

Febrile

an encapsulated tumor composed mainly of fibrous connective tissue. (other names include: fibroid, tumor, inoma)

Fibroma

having rapid and severe onset, usually fatal

Fulminating

a condition or disease in which there is no recognizable change in anatomy

Functional

an abscess or pyogenic infection of a sweat gland or hair follicle

Furuncle

a form of necrosis combined with putrefaction resulting from a lack of blood supply to tissue

Gangrene

necrosis and putrefaction of tissue as a result of the invasion by a gas producing bacillus, especially Clostridium perfringens

Gas Gangrene

inflammation of the stomach

Gastritis

Degeneration of brain tissue (seen in tertiary syphilis) An inflammatory condition related to the nervous system

General Paresis

deals with the study of the widespread processes of disease such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis or cellular death, repair, etc. without reference to particular organs or organ systems

General pathology

Excessive secretion of growth hormone (before puberty)

Gigantism

inflammation of the gums

Gingivitis