Nursing Lecture Week 1 and 2 Study Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering cellular adaptation, cancer characteristics, genetics, hypersensitivity types, and stress hormones based on nursing study session notes.

Malignant tumor

An evil, life-threatening tumor that can metastasize (spread), grows at a high speed, and is characterized as being undifferentiated and unencapsulated.

Benign tumor

A non-cancerous tumor that does not spread but can still be fatal depending on its location, such as sitting on the brain, heart, or nerves.

Metastasis

The process by which malignant tumor cells travel from the original site to other parts of the body.

Dysplasia

A precancerous change in cell structure or appearance.

Anaplasia

A high-level cellular abnormality where cells are undifferentiated; it is typically considered cancerous because cancer cells are also undifferentiated.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ resulting from too much production.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of individual cells, often seen in the heart during heart failure or in skeletal muscles of bodybuilders.

Atrophy

The shrinking or decrease in cell size, often caused by muscle wasting, immobility, or being in a cast.

Metaplasia

The reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another different but mature cell type, such as the changes in a smoker's airway or in Bare esophagus from GERD.

Apoptosis

A programmed, intentional, and predictable form of cell death used by the body to remove abnormal, aged, or excess cells.

Necrosis

An unpredictable and irreversible cell death prompted by lack of oxygen and cellular injury.

Ischemia

A restriction in blood supply to tissues that causes a shortage of oxygen and typically manifests as pain.

Infarction

The death of a large area of tissue resulting from prolonged ischemia and cell necrosis.

Hypoxia

A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, which can lead to ischemia and necrosis.

Cyanosis

A bluish or cyanotic discoloration of the skin indicating severe oxygen deprivation.

Down syndrome

A chromosomal disorder involving an extra copy of chromosome $21$ (Trisomy $21$), characterized by cognitive impairment, slanted eyes, and increased risk for leukemia and early-onset Alzheimer's.

Autosomal dominant

A genetic inheritance pattern where only one copy of a gene from one parent is needed for the trait to be expressed, resulting in a $50\%$ chance for each child to be affected.

Autosomal recessive

A genetic inheritance pattern requiring two copies of a gene (one from each parent) to express the disorder; results in a $25\%$ chance of being affected, a $25\%$ chance of being normal, and a $50\%$ chance of being a carrier.

Type I Hypersensitivity

An immediate allergic reaction mediated by IgE and histamine; examples include asthma and anaphylaxis.

Type II Hypersensitivity

A cytotoxic reaction occurring during events such as blood transfusion incompatibility.

Type III Hypersensitivity

An immune-complex mediated or autoimmune reaction, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Type IV Hypersensitivity

A delayed hypersensitivity reaction, such as the response to poison ivy, a TB skin test, or organ transplant rejection.

Cortisol

A stress hormone that increases blood glucose levels and suppresses the immune system's inflammatory response.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone released during stress that causes water retention and can lead to hyponatremia due to hemodilution.

Active immunity

Immunity that occurs when the body produces its own antibodies, either naturally through infection or artificially through a vaccine.

Passive immunity

Immunity achieved when the body receives pre-formed antibodies from another source, such as a mother passing antibodies to a baby or receiving immunoglobulin shots.