Pathology: Diseases

Flashcards about Pathology and Diseases

Disease

A condition affecting certain functions or structures in the human body, usually associated with signs or symptoms.

Acute Disease

A disease with a sudden onset that lasts for a short period of time.

Chronic Disease

A disease that is present for long periods, usually over three months.

Remission Period

The period where a chronic disease is not actively showing signs or symptoms.

Exacerbation Period

The period where a chronic disease is actively affecting a person's health.

Acquired Disease

A disease a person has obtained at some point after birth.

Autoimmune Diseases

Diseases that result from the body's immune system attacking its own cells and structures.

Autoantibodies

Proteins released by the body that cannot differentiate between normal tissue and foreign substances in autoimmune diseases.

Congenital Disease

A disease that is present at birth; may be inherited or the result of environmental factors.

Deficiency Diseases

Diseases that result from the body not receiving adequate nutrients, vitamins, and/or minerals in the diet.

Hereditary Disease

A disease resulting from an abnormality in a person's genome; also known as a genetic disease.

Single Gene Inheritance

Single gene inheritances are the result of mutations occurring in one single gene.

Multifactoral Gene Inheritance

Multifactoral gene inheritances are the result of a mutation in multiple genes, in association with environmental factors.

Idiopathic Disease

A disease that has an unknown origin or cause.

Infection

An invasion of a microorganism inside the body.

Bacteria

Single-celled organisms that can only be seen under a microscope; can reproduce via cell mitosis.

Bacterial Infections

Infections caused by an invasion of certain types of bacteria.