patho ch. 2 flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms related to nursing and medical studies.

Acromegaly

Excess growth hormone secretion in adults causing enlargement of hands, feet, and facial bones.

Active transport

Movement of substances across a membrane using ATP against a gradient.

Adenoid hypertrophy

Enlargement of adenoid tissue causing airway obstruction.

Adjuvant therapy

Additional treatment given after primary therapy.

Aerobic respiration

Energy production using oxygen.

Anaerobic respiration

Energy production without oxygen.

Antiport

Transport of two substances in opposite directions.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Atrophy

Decrease in cell size or tissue mass.

Binding affinity

Strength of attraction between ligand and receptor.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Chronic lung disease in premature infants.

Cardiac hypertrophy

Enlargement of heart muscle cells.

Cerebral atrophy

Loss of neurons and brain tissue.

Cervical os

Opening of the cervix.

Cervix

Lower portion of uterus.

Chromatin

DNA and protein material in nucleus.

Chromosomes

Condensed DNA structures.

Citric acid cycle

Krebs cycle; aerobic ATP production.

Colposcopy

Visual exam of cervix.

Columnar epithelium

Tall cells for secretion/absorption.

Compliance

Ability of lungs/vessels to stretch.

Concentration gradient

Difference in concentration.

Cotransport

Two substances move in the same direction.

Countertransport

Another term for antiport.

Cytoplasm

Cell contents outside nucleus.

Cytoskeleton

Structural cell framework.

Cytosol

Fluid portion of cytoplasm.

Deficit injury

Injury from lack of oxygen/nutrients.

DNA

Genetic material.

Differentiation

Cells become specialized.

Diffusion

Passive movement down gradient.

Dysplasia

Abnormal cell growth.

Ectocervix

Outer cervix.

Electrochemical gradient

Electrical and chemical force.

Endocervix

Inner cervical canal.

Endocrine signaling

Hormones conveyed via bloodstream.

Endocytosis

Cellular uptake.

Endogenous

Originates within the body.

Endoplasmic reticulum

Site of protein and lipid synthesis.

Exocytosis

Release of substances from a cell.

Exogenous

Originates outside the body.

Facilitated diffusion

Passive transport involving proteins.

Feedback mechanisms

Regulation of hormones.

Free radical injury

Cell damage caused by unstable molecules.

Genes

DNA segments coding for proteins.

Gigantism

Excess growth hormone in children.

Glycolysis

Anaerobic breakdown of glucose.

Golgi apparatus

Organelle responsible for packaging proteins.

Hormones

Chemical messengers in the body.

HPV

Virus linked to cervical cancer.

Hyperplasia

Increase in cell number.

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow.

Ligands

Molecules that bind to receptors.

Lysosome

Digestive organelle in cells.

Metaplasia

Reversible change of one cell type to another.

Mitochondrion

Organelle responsible for ATP production.

Necrosis

Uncontrolled cell death.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water.

Pap smear

Screening test for cervical cancer.

Paracrine signaling

Cell signaling to nearby cells.

Phagocytosis

Engulfing of particles by cells.

Plasma membrane

Boundary of the cell.

Proliferation

Rapid cell division.

Receptor

Protein that binds a ligand.

RNA

Involved in protein synthesis.

Secondary active transport

Uses energy from a concentration gradient.

Signal transduction

Process of cellular response.

Squamous epithelium

Flat epithelial cells.

Syncope

Temporary loss of consciousness.

Thermal injury

Damage caused by heat or cold.

Transformation zone

Area prone to cervical cancer.

Transmembrane proteins

Proteins that span the cell membrane.