General Pathology Practice Exam Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards created from the General Pathology practice exam covering endocrine, nervous, gastrointestinal, muscular, reproductive, and bone pathology topics.

Festinating gait

A gait disturbance characterized by slowness of voluntary movement, stooped posture, diminished facial expression, and a progressively shortened, accelerated gait.

Ulcerative colitis (Active severe)

Inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous mucosal ulceration with pseudopolyps starting from the rectum.

Dysgerminoma

A solid, radiosensitive ovarian germ cell tumor occurring in patients with gonadal dysgenesis, composed of sheets of large clear cells separated by fibrous stroma containing lymphocytes.

Reactive Astrocytes (Gliosis)

Central nervous system cells that undergo hypertrophy and hyperplasia with prominent eosinophilic cytoplasm and ramifying processes to form a repair scar following CNS injury.

Ballooning degeneration

Histopathological change described as marked swelling and cellular enlargement of hepatocytes with irregularly clumped cytoplasm and clear spaces in acute hepatic injury.

Endomysium

The specific connective tissue layer in skeletal muscle histology that directly envelops individual muscle fibers.

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN 1)

An inherited condition predisposing to tumors in three primary endocrine organs ("3 Ps"): Parathyroid glands, Pancreatic islets, and Anterior Pituitary gland.

Subthalamic nucleus lesion

A vascular or structural lesion resulting in hemiballismus, characterized by unilateral, violent, flinging involuntary movements of the proximal limb muscles.

Lichen simplex chronicus

A vulvar disorder distinguished histologically by marked epithelial thickening (acanthosis) and expansion of the stratum granulosum without cellular atypia.

Schiller-Duval bodies

Glomerulus-like histopathological structures with cytoplasmic alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) positivity characteristic of Yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor) in young boys.

Curling ulcers

Acute gastric stress ulcers developing in patients with severe thermal burns over a large body surface area.

Red neurons

An early histopathological change appearing $12 \text{ to } 24 \text{ hours}$ following acute hypoxic or ischemic brain injury, characterized by cell body shrinkage, nuclear pyknosis, and intense eosinophilia.

Uterine Leiomyoma

A sharply circumscribed, firm benign tumor in the myometrium with a characteristic gray-white whorled appearance composed of interlacing bundles of smooth muscle cells without atypia.

Hypospadias

A congenital anomaly in newborn males where the urethral meatus is abnormally located on the ventral aspect of the penis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

The most frequent bacterial pathogen causing infectious cervicitis, accounting for approximately $40\text{\%}$ of cases.

21-Hydroxylase deficiency

The most common enzyme deficiency responsible for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), accounting for over $90\text{\%}$ of cases.

Kernicterus

Potentially fatal neurologic injury caused by the accumulation of unesterified, insoluble bilirubin in the brain tissue of neonates with severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Lichen sclerosus

A vulvar condition presenting with smooth white vulvar plaques, labial atrophy, epidermal thinning, hydropic degeneration of basal cells, and dermal fibrosis.

Ground-glass hepatocytes

Hepatocytes with uniform, finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm seen on histopathological examination in chronic hepatitis B infection.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism

A metabolic derangement in end-stage renal disease caused by hyperphosphatemia and reduced calcitriol leading to hypocalcemia, which stimulates parathyroid hyperplasia.

Autoimmune gastritis

An autoimmune disorder targeting parietal cells and intrinsic factor, primarily leading to mucosal atrophy in the body and fundus of the stomach.

Diffuse-type gastric adenocarcinoma

A morphologic subtype of gastric cancer characterized by signet-ring tumor cells infiltrating the stomach wall diffusely, producing a rigid "leather bottle" appearance (linitis plastica).

Polymyositis

An inflammatory myopathy in adults presenting with progressive symmetric muscle weakness, anti-Jo-1 antibodies, and endomysial infiltrates composed predominantly of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.

Gigantism

A clinical condition resulting from hypersecretion of growth hormone originating from an anterior pituitary adenoma in a child prior to epiphyseal plate closure.

Exogenous corticosteroids

The most common overall cause of Cushing syndrome across all clinical settings (iatrogenic).

Adenomyosis

A benign uterine condition characterized by endometrial glands and stroma deeply embedded within the myometrium.

Whipple triad

Diagnostic criteria for Insulinoma including: 1) Hypoglycemic symptoms, 2) Documented blood glucose below $50 \text{ mg/dL}$, and 3) Symptom relief upon glucose administration.

Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

A malignant smooth muscle tumor of the uterus that typically arises de novo as a solitary, soft, hemorrhagic, necrotic bulky mass.

Subacute Granulomatous (De Quervain) Thyroiditis

A granulomatous thyroid disorder following a viral infection, presenting with a markedly painful and tender thyroid gland, fever, and transient hyperthyroidism.

Balanoposthitis

Inflammation restricted specifically to the glans penis and its overlying prepuce, frequently caused by poor local hygiene and smegma accumulation.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

An endocrine disorder presenting with elevated PTH, hypercalcemia ($12.5 \text{ mg/dL}$), recurrent calcium kidney stones, bone pain, peptic ulcer disease, and depression.

Brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism

Tumor-like expansile bone lesions caused by marked osteoclastic bone resorption, microfractures, hemorrhage, and reactive fibrous tissue replacement containing hemosiderin-laden macrophages.

Alzheimer disease (Pathologic features)

A neurodegenerative disease requiring the postmortem identification of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.

Dermatomyositis

An inflammatory muscle disorder presenting with proximal muscle weakness, a heliotrope rash around the eyelids, and erythematous papules/plaques over the knuckles (Gottron papules).

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

An acute, catastrophic adrenal insufficiency characterized pathologically by bilateral hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal glands secondary to meningococcemia.

Acute pancreatitis

An acute inflammatory condition presenting with severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and elevated amylase/lipase, driven by autodigestion of pancreatic parenchyma by activated digestive enzymes.

Asterixis

A nonrhythmic, rapid flapping tremor of the hands observed upon wrist extension in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Upper outer quadrant

The anatomical quadrant of the breast statistically identified as the primary site for $50\text{\%}$ of breast carcinoma cases.

Non-gonococcal salpingitis

A tubal infection (e.g., staphylococcal or streptococcal) characterized pathologically by invasive penetration of the tubal wall with hematogenous dissemination to meninges, joints, and heart valves.

Trichinella spiralis

A parasite transmitted by ingesting undercooked pork containing encysted larvae, causing parasitic myositis with muscle pain and periorbital edema.

Pheochromocytoma "Rule of 10s"

The classic epidemiological rule for pheochromocytomas stating that $10\text{\%}$ are extra-adrenal, $10\text{\%}$ are bilateral, and $10\text{\%}$ are malignant.

Provisional callus (Procallus)

An initial soft fusiform bridge formed at a bone fracture site during the first week, consisting of granulation tissue, newly formed cartilage, and uncalcified osteoid.

Lewy bodies

Intracellular eosinophilic inclusions composed of alpha-synuclein located within pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease.

Reye syndrome

A childhood condition caused by administration of aspirin during a viral illness, pathologically marked by microvesicular steatosis of hepatocytes and acute encephalopathy.

Hydatidiform mole

A gestational trophoblastic lesion characterized by a voluminous mass of avascular, swollen, grape-like cystically dilated chorionic villi.

Pheochromocytoma

A catecholamine-secreting tumor originating from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, presenting with episodic headaches, sweating, tachycardia, paroxysmal hypertension, and elevated urinary metanephrines/VMA.

Granulosa-theca cell tumor

A sex cord-stromal ovarian tumor characterized microscopically by cuboidal granulosa cells arranged in small gland-like structures surrounding central eosinophilic material (Call-Exner bodies).

HPV E6 and E7 proteins

Oncogenic viral proteins from high-risk HPV that drive cervical carcinogenesis by inhibiting tumor suppressors p53 (inhibited by E6) and RB (inhibited by E7).

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

An autoimmune metabolic disease caused by T lymphocyte-mediated destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

A genetic disorder resulting from mutations in Type I collagen, presenting with multiple bone fractures following minimal trauma, blue sclerae, and brittle teeth.

Rosenthal fibers

Thick, elongated, brightly eosinophilic protein aggregates found within astrocytic processes in chronic gliosis and low-grade gliomas (e.g., pilocytic astrocytoma).

Esophageal varices

Tortuous, dilated submucosal veins in the distal esophagus caused by portal hypertension, carrying a high risk of fatal massive hemorrhage if ruptured.

Myasthenia gravis

An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder causing fluctuating ptosis and diplopia that worsen toward the end of the day, driven by autoantibodies against postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors.

Chvostek sign

Facial twitching elicited by tapping the facial nerve, indicating hypocalcemia (commonly seen post-thyroidectomy due to accidental parathyroid gland removal).

Grand mal (Generalized tonic-clonic) seizure

A type of generalized seizure defined by sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by violent, rhythmic muscle contractions.

Vasogenic cerebral edema

An accumulation of fluid in the extracellular spaces of the brain caused by a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (e.g., secondary to brain tumors).

Rod cells

Elongated microglial cells formed during neurosyphilis and other chronic central nervous system infections.

Lactotroph adenoma

A prolactin-secreting anterior pituitary adenoma presenting with amenorrhea, galactorrhea, loss of libido, and infertility.

Annular "napkin-ring" adenocarcinoma

The characteristic macroscopic growth pattern of left-sided (distal colon/rectosigmoid) colorectal carcinoma that constricts the lumen and leads to bowel obstruction.

Microsatellite instability pathway

The molecular pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis most characteristic of sporadic right-sided colonic cancers presenting as exophytic cecal masses.

Cholangiocarcinoma

A malignant intrahepatic biliary tree tumor characterized histologically as a desmoplastic, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma lined by atypical cuboidal cells without intracellular bile.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

An autosomal dominant syndrome caused by germline mutations in the APC gene, resulting in hundreds to thousands of colonic adenomas with virtually $100\text{\%}$ risk of colorectal cancer if untreated.

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

A thyroid malignancy characterized pathognomonically on fine-needle aspiration biopsy by clear "Orphan Annie eye" nuclei, nuclear grooves, intranuclear inclusions, and psammoma bodies.

Chronic endometritis

An inflammatory condition of the endometrium whose definitive diagnosis requires the histological identification of plasma cells within the endometrial stroma.

Motor unit

A functional neuromuscular unit composed of a lower motor neuron in the anterior spinal horn and all the individual muscle fibers it innervates.

Sheehan syndrome

Postpartum ischemic necrosis of the anterior pituitary gland following severe postpartum hemorrhage and hypotension, leading to failure of lactation, amenorrhea, and fatigue.

Sigmoid colon

The segment of the large intestine where colonic diverticula are most frequently located (accounting for approximately $95\text{\%}$ of affected patients).

Gangrenous cholecystitis

A severe form of acute cholecystitis in which the gallbladder wall undergoes extensive ischemic necrosis and green-black discoloration.

Mononeuropathy

A category of peripheral neuropathy affecting a single nerve, such as median nerve compression at the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome.

HPV 16

The high-risk Human Papillomavirus genotype identified in $75\text{\%} \text{ to } 90\text{\%}$ of HPV-associated vulvar squamous cell carcinomas.

Crohn disease

An inflammatory bowel disease characterized pathologically by transmural inflammation, non-caseating granulomas, skip lesions, and a "cobblestone" mucosal appearance.

Rickets / Osteomalacia

A metabolic bone disease characterized fundamentally by inadequate mineralization of newly formed osteoid due to Vitamin D deficiency.

Endometrial hyperplasia

A preneoplastic endometrial lesion resulting from prolonged unopposed estrogen stimulation in obese or anovulatory perimenopausal females.

Becker muscular dystrophy

An X-linked muscular dystrophy caused by mutations yielding an altered, partially functional dystrophin protein, resulting in a milder clinical course starting around puberty.

Volvulus

A mechanical bowel disorder caused by the twisting of a loop of intestine around its mesenteric vascular pedicle, leading to intestinal obstruction and hemorrhagic infarction.

Hirschsprung disease

A congenital disorder caused by a lack of ganglion cells in the Meissner and Auerbach plexuses, presenting in newborns as failure to pass meconium, abdominal distension, and bilious vomiting.

Hepatorenal syndrome

Functional renal failure occurring in advanced liver failure, characterized by severe renal vasoconstriction and decreased renal blood flow in morphologically normal kidneys.

Oligodendrocytes

The primary glial cells targeted by the autoimmune response in Multiple Sclerosis, resulting in demyelination across the central nervous system.

Hashimoto thyroiditis

An autoimmune thyroid disorder presenting as a painless diffuse goiter with hypothyroidism, characterized histologically by dense lymphocytic infiltrates with germinal centers and Hurthle cell metaplasia.

Bartholin gland

The adult female vestibular gland that is embryologically homologous to the male bulbourethral gland (Cowper gland).

Medullary thyroid carcinoma

A neuroendocrine neoplasm originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland that secretes calcitonin as a tumor marker.

Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma

A malignant thyroid neoplasm distinguished definitively from a benign Follicular Adenoma by the demonstration of capsular or vascular invasion.

Chorea

A movement disorder characterized by involuntary, rapid, jerky, non-rhythmic movements that seem to flow continuously from one muscle group to another.

Wallerian degeneration

The breakdown and clearance of the axon and myelin sheath distal to the site of injury following traumatic transection of a peripheral nerve.

Meckel diverticulum

A congenital true diverticulum located on the antimesenteric border of the ileum containing ectopic gastric or pancreatic mucosa, causing painless lower GI bleeding in young children.

Conn syndrome (Primary hyperaldosteronism)

An aldosterone-secreting adrenal cortical lesion presenting clinically with hypertension, hypokalemia, and suppressed plasma renin activity.

Acute pyogenic meningitis

A bacterial infection restricted to the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space yielding a purulent cerebrospinal fluid exudate.

Border zone (Watershed) infarct

Wedge-shaped ischemic brain infarcts located at the distal fields of arterial perfusion between major cerebral arteries following severe systemic hypotension.

Fibroadenoma

A benign biphasic breast tumor characterized by proliferation of both epithelial ducts and fibrous stroma, presenting as a firm, mobile mass in a young female.

Condylomata lata

Flat, moist, minimally elevated vulvar lesions associated with secondary syphilis.

Dysdiadochokinesia

A sign of cerebellar dysfunction characterized by the inability to perform rapid alternating movements, such as pronation and supination of the hands.

Ileocecal junction

The primary anatomical site where intussusception most frequently occurs in infants and young children.

Endometrioid carcinoma

The most common form of endometrial carcinoma, displaying cribriform glandular architecture and associated with postmenopausal bleeding, obesity, and hypertension.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

The androgen metabolite responsible for driving periurethral stromal and glandular proliferation in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Sjögren syndrome

An autoimmune disorder causing inflammatory destruction of lacrimal and salivary glands, leading to dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and dry mouth (xerostomia).

Acute calculous cholecystitis

Acute inflammation of the gallbladder presenting with steady right upper quadrant pain radiating to the shoulder, fever, leukocytosis, positive Murphy sign, and stones impacted in the cystic duct.

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)

An autoantibody pathognomonic for Graves disease that binds directly to and stimulates TSH receptors on thyroid follicular cells.