Basic Concepts

Question 1

Physiology

Answer 1

Study of functions and processes that occur in the body, mostly normal processes

Ex:) 20 year old pregnant woman saying she has amenorrhea is normal due to pregnancy. Would be physiology.

Question 2

Pathophysiology

Answer 2

The study of underlying changes in body physiology that result from disease or injury.

Ex:) 20 yr old woman experiencing amenorrhea

Question 3

Compensation

Answer 3

The return to homeostasis by the body’s use of control mechanisms, also called compensatory mechanisms.

Ex); exposed to Texas heat-Elevated external temperature- body temp rises- hypothalamus senses high temp and signals skin to produce sweat - heat loss Occurs thru evaporation. -Dilation of superficial blood vessels as heated blood circulated from the core to the periphery- heat loss occurs thru radiation (heat removed from body into surrounding air).

Question 4

Decompensation

Answer 4

Failure to compensate, adapt,heal.
Happens when compensatory mechanism is turned on for too long without help and starts to fail because cannot maintain for long periods of time.

Question 5

Disease /disorder/syndrome

Answer 5

Categorized in this class as all disturbances in body homeostasis.

Question 6

risk factor

Answer 6

Factors that contribute to and or increase that a dz will occur

Ex) heredity, age, lifestyle, environment.

Question 7

Precipitating factor

Answer 7

A condition or event that triggers a pathological event or disorder
Ex) an asthma attack can be precipitated by exertion.

Question 8

Etiology

Answer 8

The cause of a disease

Ex) etiology of aids- hiv
Etiology of rheumatic heart disease- autoimmune reaction
TB- mycobacterium

Question 9

Idiopathic

Answer 9

Disease with unidentifiable cause

Question 10

Iatrogenic

Answer 10

Problems result of medical treatment.
Ex) if kidney failure is due to the improper use of the antibiotics you could say that the etiology of the kidney failure was iatrogenic.

Question 11

Nosocomial

Answer 11

Problems result as consequence of being in hospital environment

Ex) urniary tract infection is called a nosocomial infection if it developed while the patient was in the hospital

Question 12

Clinical manifestations

Answer 12

Presence of a sign and or symptom of a disease

Question 13

Signs

Answer 13

Manifestations that can be objectively Identified by a trained observer (CAN BE MEASURED)
Ex) heart rate, respiratory rate,BP, tempature.

Question 14

Symptoms

Answer 14

Subjective manifestations that can only be reported by the person experiencing them.
Ex) pain. Nausea, fatiugue

Question 15

Acute S&S

Answer 15

Can mean fairly rapid appearance of s&s of dz. Usually only last a short time.
Ex) patient had an acute RESOLVED in a few days

Also can mean increase of severity of disease.
Ex) the acuity of the patients uRI increased and he had to hospitalized.

Question 16

Chronic S&S

Answer 16

Develop more slowly, signs and symptoms are often insidious and last longer and/or wax and wane over months or years. (Come and go)
RemiSsions- periods when S&S disappear or diminish significantly.
Exacerbations- periods when S&S become worse or more severe(wax); exacerbate- to provoke. To make worse.

Question 17

Central

Answer 17

Usually refers to problem, situation, that is occurring towards the center or core of the body

Question 18

Peripheral

Answer 18

Refers to the problem, situation,that is occurring toward to the outer parts of the body, away from the core.
Ex) if we lose a lot of blood the -eriphery often constrict so that not a lot of blood can circulate in those areas (arms and legs). So more blood goes to central areas.

Question 19

Prognosis

Answer 19

The predicted outcome of a disease based on certain factors such as the usual course of a disease/ the individuals characteristics such as
Age: infants and older patients at higher risk for poor prognosis due to immature or worn out immune system.
-Presence of comorbidities - two or more coexisting medical conditions
Ex) heart disease and lung disease.

Question 20

Sequela

Answer 20

Aftermath of a disease
Ex) possible sequela of chicken pox is shingles/scarring
Possible sequela of stroke - paralysis on 1 side.