intro to patho

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Definitions

pathophysiology :: Physiology of altered health; deals with cellular changes that occur with disease and the effect these changes have on total body function; Mechanisms of disease

etiology :: All factors involved in development of a disease (cause)

Idiopathic :: Cause unknown

Iatrogenic :: Cause is a result of a medical treatment

Manifestations :: Characteristic consequences of disease process (clinical manifestations = signs and symptoms); How disease presents/manifests

Signs :: Objective perceptions, can be measured

Symptoms :: Subjective perceptions, how patient feels

Sequelae :: Manifestations that result from another injury or disease

Diagnosis :: Identification of disease/condition by evaluating manifestations, health history, lab tests and procedures

X-Ray :: Imaging of denser tissues

CT scan :: Imaging of softer tissues

Endoscopy :: Endo = in; internal visual techniques usually into stomach, airways, rectum, colon, etc. Hematology :: Blood tests

Urinalysis :: Check urine for normal levels of components

Cultures :: Done on any body fluids, can grow pathogens to identify them

Histology :: Observe cells under microscope

Prognosis :: Prediction of probable outcome of disease based on patient condition and usual course Primary treatment :: Remove risk factors for developing a disease

Secondary treatment :: Detect disease as early as possible to begin treatment (asymptomatic)

Tertiary treatment :: Reduce complications of disease; treatment (symptomatic)

Disease :: What is going wrong; related to cause and impact on body

Acute onset :: Rapid onset

Chronic onset :: Slow and progressive onset

Prodromal period :: Experiencing mild manifestations not specifically related to the disease (commonly fatigue)

Latent period :: Exposed to disease/developing it but currently asymptomatic

Risk factors :: Factors incr. likelihood of getting a disease

Pathogenesis :: How disease progresses through body over time (i.e. local to systemic)

Epidemiology :: Study of factors related to disease (age, genetics, smoking, diet)

Syndrome :: Manifestations associated w/ specific diseases (Down syndrome and the extra x chromosome)

Complication :: Something happens and worsens prognosis (i.e COPD patient develops pneumonia) Biopsy :: Take tissue sample for histological study

Epidemic :: Incr. in disease cases in specific region over specific time

Incidence :: number of new cases over specific time (i.e. in the last year)

Prevalence :: number of cases (all cases)

Pluripotent STEM cell :: Rapidly dividing cell, differentiates into different mature cell types w/ specific jobs

Cellular adaptation :: Process of cell changing (i.e use different genes or proteins) to maintain function under stress; cells attempt to compensate

Cell injury :: Stress too great or too quick resulting in cell that has changed to survive and partially function (injured)

Apoptosis :: Cell suicide; knows the stress is too much, kills itself before reaching necrosis

Physiologic :: Expected result of cell change; wanted this

Pathologic :: Abnormal, detrimental, didn’t want this change