Pulmonary, Renal & GI Pathophysiology – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering pulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal concepts from the lecture notes.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing; a cardinal clinical indicator of pulmonary disease.

Hyperventilation

Increased alveolar ventilation causing low arterial CO₂ and respiratory alkalosis.

Hypoventilation

Decreased alveolar ventilation causing high arterial CO₂ and respiratory acidosis.

Hypoxia

Deficient oxygen levels within body tissues.

Hypoxemia

Low oxygen concentration in arterial blood.

Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF)

Inadequate gas exchange with PaO₂ < 60 mm Hg or PaCO₂ > 50 mm Hg.

Primary (Spontaneous) Pneumothorax

Lung collapse without underlying disease, often from ruptured bleb.

Secondary Pneumothorax

Lung collapse due to underlying lung disease (e.g., COPD, trauma).

Tension Pneumothorax

Life-threatening pneumothorax with progressive air trapping and mediastinal shift.

Pleural Effusion

Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.

Empyema

Pus collection within the pleural space, usually from infection.

Atelectasis

Collapse of alveoli leading to impaired gas exchange.

Bronchiectasis

Permanent dilation of bronchi/bronchioles associated with chronic infection and productive cough.

Bronchiolitis

Inflammation of small airways, common in children (often RSV-related).

Bronchiolitis Obliterans

Fibrotic obstruction of bronchioles resulting in irreversible airflow limitation.

Toxic Inhalation Injury

Respiratory tract damage from inhaled toxins causing inflammation and fibrosis.

Pulmonary Edema

Fluid accumulation in alveoli, often from left heart failure or capillary injury.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Severe diffuse alveolar damage causing non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema and refractory hypoxemia.

Obstructive Lung Diseases

Group of disorders (e.g., asthma, COPD, emphysema) characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation.

Asthma Inflammation

Immune-mediated airway inflammation leading to bronchoconstriction, mucus, and edema.

Bacterial Pneumonia

Lobar infection with productive cough and consolidations, usually by bacteria.

Viral Pneumonia

Diffuse interstitial lung infection with dry cough, usually by viruses.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection forming caseating granulomas.

Pulmonary Embolus (PE)

Embolic obstruction of pulmonary artery, typically from DVT, causing sudden dyspnea and chest pain.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure from chronic hypoxia, lung disease, or left heart failure.

Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Aggressive lung malignancy with poorest prognosis, linked to smoking.

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Major lung cancer group including adenocarcinoma, squamous, and large-cell types.

Urinary Tract Obstruction

Blockage of urine flow by stones, tumors, strictures, or prostate enlargement.

Hydronephrosis

Dilation of renal pelvis and calyces due to obstructed urine flow.

Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis)

Crystalline calculi formed from supersaturated urine solutes.

Calcium Stones

Most common renal calculi composed primarily of calcium oxalate or phosphate.

Struvite Stones

Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate stones associated with UTIs.

Uric Acid Stones

Radiolucent stones formed in acidic urine, linked to gout or high purine intake.

Cystine Stones

Rare stones from genetic cystinuria causing cystine crystal formation.

Neurogenic Bladder

Bladder dysfunction resulting from neurologic damage.

Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Urgency, frequency, and nocturia without infection or obstruction.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Primary kidney cancer presenting with hematuria, flank pain, and weight loss.

Bladder Tumor

Neoplasm of bladder, commonly manifested by painless hematuria.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Bacterial infection (usually E. coli) of urinary tract causing dysuria and frequency.

Acute Pyelonephritis

Acute infection of kidney parenchyma leading to fever, chills, and flank pain.

Chronic Pyelonephritis

Recurrent kidney infections causing scarring and gradual renal dysfunction.

Glomerulonephritis (GN)

Immune-mediated inflammation damaging glomeruli.

Acute GN

Sudden glomerular injury with hematuria, edema, hypertension, and ↓ GFR.

Rapidly Progressive GN

Severe GN with crescent formation and rapid loss of renal function.

Chronic GN

Slow, progressive glomerular damage leading to chronic kidney failure.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Triad of massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema.

Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Renal hypoperfusion (e.g., dehydration, shock) causing decreased GFR.

Intrarenal AKI

Intrinsic renal damage, often to tubules, from ischemia or nephrotoxins.

Postrenal AKI

Obstruction of urinary outflow leading to increased intratubular pressure and kidney injury.

Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)

Ischemic or toxic injury to renal tubular cells, common cause of intrarenal AKI.

Chronic Renal Failure

Progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function with uremia and systemic effects.

Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome

Edematous kidney disorder in children, often post-viral, with heavy proteinuria.

Pediatric GN

Acute glomerulonephritis in children, often following streptococcal infection.

IgA Nephropathy

Berger disease; recurrent hematuria after upper respiratory infections due to IgA deposition.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

E. coli O157:H7–related triad: hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney failure.

Post-Streptococcal GN

Immune complex GN occurring after strep throat, leading to glomerular injury.

Diarrhea

Increased stool frequency/volume from hypermotility, malabsorption, or inflammation.

Constipation

Infrequent or difficult bowel movements due to low motility, dehydration, or obstruction.

Parietal Abdominal Pain

Sharp, localized pain from parietal peritoneum irritation.

Visceral Abdominal Pain

Dull, diffuse pain from organ distention or ischemia.

Referred Abdominal Pain

Pain perceived at a distant site sharing neural pathways.

Upper GI Bleed

Bleeding above ligament of Treitz causing hematemesis or melena.

Lower GI Bleed

Bleeding below ligament of Treitz producing hematochezia.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease; chronic acid reflux causing heartburn.

Achalasia

Failure of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation leading to dysphagia.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Functional bowel disorder with cramping, bloating, and altered stool habits without inflammation.

Pyloric Stenosis

Hypertrophy of pyloric sphincter causing gastric outlet obstruction.

Gastritis

Stomach inflammation often due to H. pylori or NSAIDs.

Duodenal Ulcer

Peptic ulcer in duodenum where pain is relieved by food.

Gastric Ulcer

Peptic ulcer in stomach where pain worsens with food intake.

Dumping Syndrome

Post-gastrectomy rapid gastric emptying causing diarrhea and hypoglycemia.

Pancreatic Insufficiency

Inadequate pancreatic enzyme production leading to steatorrhea and malabsorption.

Lactase Deficiency

Inability to digest lactose causing bloating and diarrhea after dairy.

Bile Salt Deficiency

Reduced bile salts causing fat malabsorption and fat-soluble vitamin loss.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Chronic inflammatory disease of colon with continuous lesions and bloody diarrhea.

Crohn Disease

Transmural inflammatory disease affecting any GI segment with skip lesions and weight loss.

Diverticulitis

Inflamed diverticula causing LLQ pain, fever, and leukocytosis.

Appendicitis

Inflamed appendix presenting with RLQ pain and rebound tenderness.

Vascular Insufficiency (GI Ischemia)

Reduced mesenteric blood flow causing postprandial pain and weight loss.

Portal Hypertension

Elevated portal venous pressure leading to varices, splenomegaly, and ascites.

Ascites

Fluid accumulation in peritoneal cavity, often from portal hypertension.

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Neuropsychiatric impairment due to elevated ammonia in liver failure.

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration from excess bilirubin deposition.

Hepatorenal Syndrome

Renal failure secondary to advanced liver disease and circulatory changes.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Liver fibrosis following chronic alcohol-induced steatosis.

Biliary Cirrhosis

Autoimmune destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts causing cholestasis and fibrosis.

Hepatitis A & E

Acute viral hepatitis transmitted via fecal-oral route.

Hepatitis B, C, D

Blood- and sexually transmitted viral hepatitides; B & D require HBV co-infection.

Cholelithiasis

Gallstone formation in gallbladder.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of gallbladder, usually from cystic duct obstruction by stones.

Acute Pancreatitis

Sudden pancreatic inflammation with LUQ pain and elevated amylase/lipase.

Chronic Pancreatitis

Progressive pancreatic fibrosis causing pain, diabetes, and malabsorption.

Esophageal Cancer

Malignancy presenting chiefly with progressive dysphagia.

Gastric Cancer

Stomach malignancy often manifesting as weight loss and vague epigastric pain.

Colorectal Cancer

Malignancy of colon/rectum frequently presenting with occult or overt bleeding.

Pancreatic Cancer

Aggressive tumor often producing back pain, jaundice, and weight loss.