Pathology Terms Cheat Sheet

A collection of vocabulary flashcards defining key pathology terms based on the provided cheat sheet.

Acute

Sudden onset, short duration (e.g., acute appendicitis).

Chronic

Long-lasting, persistent (e.g., chronic arthritis).

Subacute

Between acute and chronic; lasts weeks to months.

Comorbid / Comorbidity

Two or more conditions present in the same person at the same time.

Complication

An additional problem arising from a disease or treatment (e.g., infection after surgery).

Sequela / Sequelae

Lasting effects after the initial illness is gone (e.g., scar after a burn).

Contraindicated

A situation where a treatment should NOT be used because it may be harmful.

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease based on evaluation.

Indication

A valid reason to use a test, treatment, or procedure.

Endemic

Disease regularly found in a population/area (e.g., malaria in parts of Africa).

Epidemic

Sudden increase in cases in a community/region.

Pandemic

Global epidemic (e.g., COVID-19).

Incidence

Number of new cases in a population during a specific time.

Prevalence

Total number of cases (new + existing) at a given time.

Idiopathic

No known cause.

Lesion

Abnormal change in tissue (e.g., ulcer, tumor, wound).

Local

Limited to one area (e.g., local infection).

Systemic

Affects the whole body (e.g., sepsis).

Stenosis

Narrowing of a passage (e.g., spinal stenosis).

Morbidity

State of illness or disease in a population.

Prognosis

Expected course/outcome of a disease (good vs. poor).

Trauma

Physical injury from an external source (accident, violence, etc.).

Sign

Objective finding observed by a clinician (fever, rash).

Symptom

Subjective experience reported by patient (pain, fatigue).

Syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms that occur together (e.g., Down syndrome).