Introduction to Pathophysiology and Concepts of Disease Terms

Physiology

Study of normal functions of the human body

Pathology

Study of structural changes/alterations in cells/tissues/organs of the body that cause or are caused by disease

Anatomic pathology

Examination of organs and tissues (biopsy)

Clinical pathology

Examination of body fluids (Chemistry panel/microbiology/culture)

Morphology

Fundamental structure or form of cells/tissues/organisms

Histology

Study of cells and body tissues

Pathophysiology

The systematic study of functional changes of cells/tissues/organs altered by disease and/or injury (aka study of effects and symptoms of disease)

Disease

Acute or chronic illness that one acquires or is born with that causes physiologic dysfunction in one or more body systems

Etiology

Cause of a disease

5 types of etiology

Biologic agents

Physical forces

Chemical agents

Hereditary factors

Nutritional excess or deficit

Congenital disease

Disease present at birth

Acquired disease

Disease caused by events that occur after birth

Iatrogenic disease

Disease related to treatment/medical intervention

Idiopathic disease

Disease where cause is unknown

Nosocomial disease

Disease originating in hospital

Pathogenesis

Pattern of tissue changes associated with the development of disease (process in which a disease develops)

Symptoms

Subjective findings (what a patient reports)

Signs

Objective findings (what a provider sees)

Clinical manifestations

How the disease shows itself in a patient (signs and symptoms)

Diagnosis

Identifying/recognizing a disease based on signs and symptoms

Prognosis

Probable outcome and prospect of recovery from a disease

Complication

Adverse events during course of disease or treatment

Sequelae

Result or consequence of previous disease/treatment/injury