BL Clinical Conditions

Question 1

What is pleural effusion?

Answer 1

Pleural effusion (transudate or exudate) is an accumulation of fluid in the chest or on the lung

Question 2

What is pulmonary oedema?

Answer 2

- Pulmonary oedema is a condition wherein fluid accumulates in the lungs

• It is often a consequence of congestive heart failure

Question 3

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 3

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease in which mineralised bone is decreased in mass to the point that it no longer provides adequate mechanical support

Question 4

What is osteogenesis imperfecta?

Answer 4

• Osteogenesis imperfecta is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones.
• It results in bones that break easily and is due to abnormal Type I collagen

Question 5

What is Perthes’ disease?

Answer 5

- Perthes’ disease is a rare childhood condition that affects the hip occurring when the blood supply to the head of the femur is temporarily disrupted

• Without adequate blood supply, bone cells die (avascular necrosis)

Question 6

What is orthopnea?

Answer 6

Orthopnea is shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs when lying flat, causing the person to have to sleep propped up in bed or sitting in a chair

Question 7

What is haemothorax?

Answer 7

A hemothorax is a type of pleural effusion in which blood accumulates in the pleural cavity

Question 8

What is scurvy?

Answer 8

• Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C
• Early symptoms include weakness, feeling tired, and sore arms and legs

Question 9

What is muscle hypertrophy?

Answer 9

Muscle hypertrophy involves an increase in size of skeletal muscle through a growth in size of its component cells

Question 10

What is pneumothorax?

Answer 10

Pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall

Question 11

What is emphysema?

Answer 11

• Emphysema is where air becomes trapped in the alveoli during exhalation due to the destruction of alveolar walls and permanent enlargement of air spaces
• Results from smoking or alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency

Question 12

What is lymphoedema?

Answer 12

Lymphoedema is swelling (especially in subcutaneous tissues) as a result of obstruction of lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes and the accumulation of large amounts of lymph in the affected region

Question 13

What is pyrexia?

Answer 13

Pyrexia is elevated body temperature

Question 14

What is pneumonia?

Answer 14

• Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung caused by bacteria wherein the lung consolidates as the alveoli fill with inflammatory cells
• Most common causative bacterium is Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 15

What is oedema?

Answer 15

Oedema is an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues or serous cavities

Question 16

What is Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea?

Answer 16

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (PND) refers to attacks of severe shortness of breath and coughing that generally occur at night

Question 17

What is muscle atrophy?

Answer 17

Muscle atrophy is a decrease in the mass of the muscle; by a reduction in the number of cells and/or size of cells

Question 18

What is psoriasis?

Answer 18

• Psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease which is characterised by patches of abnormal skin
• These skin patches are typically red, itchy, and scaly and may vary in severity from small and localized to complete body coverage

Question 19

What is empyema?

Answer 19

Pleural empyema is a collection of pus in the pleural cavity caused by microorganisms, usually bacteria

Question 20

What is cystic fibrosis?

Answer 20

Cystic fibrosis is a condition resulting from the absence of the CFTR molecule in the apical membrane of the epithelial cells lining the duct of the sweat gland, resulting in poor reabsorption of chloride ions

Question 21

What is Marfan’s syndrome?

Answer 21

Marfan’s syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder in which expression of the fibrillin gene is abnormal such that elastic tissue is abnormal

Question 22

What is COPD?

Answer 22

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma

Question 23

What is goitre?

Answer 23

• Goitre is an enlargement of the thyroid gland which presents as swollen neck
• It occurs when the thyroid gland does not function properly

Question 24

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Answer 24

• RA is a long-lasting autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints
• It results in warm, swollen, painful joints as well as pain and stiffness which often worsen following rest

Question 25

What is achondroplasia?

Answer 25

• Achondroplasia is a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism
• It occurs as a sporadic mutation most commonly, but can be inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder