Medical Terms Referring to General Pathological Processes

Flashcards covering key medical terms related to general pathological processes and their definitions.

What is necrosis?

Necrosis is the death of a cell or tissue in a living organism due to injury, disease, or lack of blood supply.

What does autophagy mean?

Autophagy is a process by which a cell degrades its own components through lysosomal machinery, essential for cellular cleanup and renewal.

hypoxia.

Hypoxia is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

What is ischemia?

Ischemia is an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body.

What does hyperplasia indicate?

Hyperplasia refers to the enlargement of an organ or tissue caused by an increase in the reproduction rate of its cells.

What is dysplasia?

Dysplasia is the presence of cells of an abnormal type within a tissue, often indicating early cancer development.

Define neoplasia.

Neoplasia is the process of new abnormal growth that may be malignant or benign.

What does aplasia mean?

Aplasia refers to the absence or failure of an organ or tissue to develop or function normally.

What is atrophy?

Atrophy is a decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.

Define hypertrophy.

Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its cells.

What is edema?

Edema is characterized by an excess of watery fluid collection in the cavities or tissues of the body.

Define infarction.

Infarction is the obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region, causing local death of the tissue.

What is a pathogen?

A pathogen is any organism or agent that causes a disease.

Define allergen.

An allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction.

What is the function of antibodies?

Antibodies are blood proteins produced in response to counteract a specific antigen.

What is the role of macrophages?

Macrophages are large white blood cells important for the immune system, responsible for detecting, engulfing, and destroying pathogens.

What is hypersensitivity?

Hypersensitivity is an increased reactivity or sensitivity to an antigen leading to exaggerated immune response.

Define anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

What does urticaria refer to?

Urticaria refers to skin rash triggered by a reaction to food, medicine, or irritants, commonly known as hives.

What is the difference between acute inflammation and chronic inflammation?

Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli, while chronic inflammation is prolonged inflammation characterized by simultaneous active inflammation and tissue destruction.

What is the difference between carcinoma and sarcoma?

Carcinoma starts in the epithelial cells lining organs, whereas sarcoma originates in bone or soft tissues such as muscle or fat.

What distinguishes lymphoma from leukemia?

Lymphoma is cancer that begins in lymphocytes, while leukemia affects blood and bone marrow.

Define cachexia.

Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with underlying illness, characterized by loss of muscle with or without loss of fat mass.

What is hemorrhage?

Hemorrhage is the escape of blood from the circulatory system due to rupture of blood vessels.

Define thrombosis.

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.

What is an embolism?

An embolism is a sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus, which may be a detached blood clot.

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel.

Define atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition in which blood vessels experience persistently elevated pressure.

What is shock?

Shock is a critical condition resulting from insufficient blood supply throughout the body, leading to organ failure.

Define deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

DVT is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, often in the legs.

What is pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism is a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot.

What causes malaria?

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito.

What is HIV?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which can lead to AIDS, compromising the immune system.

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection usually spread via sexual contact and progresses through multiple stages.