Chapter 1 Terms Flashcards
The study of the cause of disease
Etiology
The cause of the disease if unknown
Idiopathic
When the treatment, procedure or error used in treating one disease causes another disease.
Iatrogenic
A factor that increases the risk of getting of a particular type of cancer
Predisposing Factors-
Ex: Sun Exposure- skin cancer, Smoking cigarettes- lung cancer, Increased age- prostate
Develops very quickly- indicates a short-term illness
Acute
Develops gradually, persists for a long time, causes more permanent tissue damage.
Chronic
“Silent” stage. No clinical signs are evident
Latent Period
Period between exposure to the microorganism and the onset of signs or symptoms. This period varies with different diseases (days, weeks). The person can infect others during this time.
Incubation Period
Vague, non-specific symptoms present themselves ex: headache, fatigue, loss of appetite.
Prodromal Period
Signs and symptoms
Manifestations
Objective indicators of the disease, can been detected by others,
Ex: fever-can be measured, skin rash can be seen
Signs
Subjective feelings, can only be experienced by the sick person
Ex: pain, nausea
Symptoms
A term used to describe a specific local change in tissue
Lesion
Manifestations of the disease subside
Remission
Signs increase
Exacerbation
A condition that triggers an acute episode
Precipitating factor
New condition or secondary problems that arise after the original disease begins
Complications
Treatment measures used to promote recovery or slow the progression of a disease.
Ex: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy
Therapies
The probability or the likelihood for a recovery of the disease.
Prognosis
In radiation therapy, often refers to the functional impairment that certain conditions cause. Can also mean the disease rates within a group. (has more than one meaning)
Morbidity
Relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease.
Mortality
The science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease
Epidemiology
The occurrence of a higher than expected number of cases of an infectious disease within a given world
Epidemics
The occurrence of a higher than expected number of cases of an infection disease in many regions of the world
Pandemics
The tracking of two factors…. incidence and prevalence
Occurrence
Number of new cases given in a population within a stated time period
Incidence
Number of new and old or existing cases within a specific population and time period
Prevalence
Infections that can be spread from one person to another. Some of these must be reported to the health authorities
Communicable diseases
Diseases that must be reported by the physician to certain designated authorities. The purpose of the required reporting is to prevent further spread of the disease and maintain public health.
Notifiable or reportable diseases
Ex: link provided on answer key
A decrease in the size of cells resulting in a decreased tissue mass.
Atrophy
Ex: shrinkage of skeleton muscle that occurs when a limb is immobilized
Increase in the size of cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
Hypertrophy
Ex: muscle gets larger as a result of weight lifting, when a kidney is removed the other kidney grows bigger to support the loss.
An increase in the number of cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
Hyperplasia
Ex: partial liver transplant, the liver regenerates, cells increase in number
When one mature cells type replaces another
Metaplasia
Ex: heavy smoker, columnar epithelium that usually lines the respiratory tract is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium.
Describes tissue in which the cells vary in size and shape, large nuclei are frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased. Can result from chronic infections or may be precancerous
Dysplasia
Cells that are undifferentiated; characteristics of cancer
Anaplasia
New growth. Can be cancerous (malignant) or benign (non cancerous)
Neoplasia
Without Oxygen
Anaerobic
Relating to or originating from external factors
Ex: the environment, or outside an organism
Exogenous
Relating to originating from inside the body
Endogenous
Programmed cell death
our body cells are killed after their life span is over
Apoptosis
Ex: red blood cells life span is about 120 days
Not cancerous
Benign
Cancerous
Malignant
A decrease supply of oxygenated blood to tissue or organ due to circulatory obstruction
Ischemia
The term applied to an area of dead cells resulting from lack of oxygen.
Infarction
Ex: myocardial infarction
The termed used when a group of cells die
Necrosis
Refers to the collection of interstitial fluid formed in the inflamed area.
Exudate
Watery exudate consisting primarily of small amounts of protein and white blood cells
Serous
An increase in white blood cells
Leukocytosis
Fever
Pyrexia
Loss of appetite
Anorexia
Feeling unwell
Malaise
A protein that is the basic component of scar tissue and provides strength for new repair
Collagen
Development of new blood vessels
Angiogenesis
Bands of scar tissue joining two surfaces that are normally separated
Adhesions
Ex: adhesion between loops of intestine or between the pleural membranes. May be caused by inflammation or infection and can prevent normal movement of the structures and may eventually cause distortion or twisting of the tissue
An overgrowth of fibrous tissue consisting of excessive collagen deposits leading to hard ridges of scar tissue or keloids
Hypertrophic Scar Tissue
The percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood
Hematocrit
Erosion through the wall of viscera
Perforation
