Chapter 8 - Pathophysiology Flashcards
Acid-Base Balance
Delicate balance between the body’s acidity and alkalinity
Active Transport
A process used to move substances against the concentration gradient or toward the side that has a higher concentration; requires he use of energy by the cell but is faster than diffusion
Aldosterone
A hormone responsible for the reabsorption of sodium and water from the kidney tubules
Anion
A negatively charged ion
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
A hormone release in response to detected loss of body water; prevents further loss of water through the urinary tract by promoting the reabsorption of water into the blood
Anucleated
Cells of the body that do not have a central nucleus, such as those in cardiac muscle
Atrophy
Decrease in cell size that negatively affects function
Buffer Systems
Compensatory mechanisms that act together to control pH
Capsid
Layers of protein enveloping the genome of a virion; composed of structural units called the capsomeres
Capsule
A membranous shell surrounding certain microorganisms, such as the pneumococcus bacterium
Catabolism
Process of breaking down complex substances into more simple ones
Cation
A positively charged ion
Cellular Swelling
Swelling of cellular tissues, usually from injury
Chromatin
Material with a cell nucleus from which the chromosomes are formed
Chromosomes
Any of the threadlike structures in the nucleus of a cell that function in the transmission of genetic information; each consists of a double strand of DNA attached to proteins called histones
Cytosol
Liquid medium of the cytoplasm
Dehydration
A state in which the body has an excessive water loss from the tissues
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Genetic material passed on to the cell from the parent cell
Diapedesis
Migration of phagocytes through the endothelial wall of the vasculature into surrounding tissues
Differentiation
Process by which the cell becomes specialized for a specific purpose, such as a cardiac cell versus a bone cell
Diffusion
Spreading out of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
Dysplasia
Abnormal cell growth; cells take on an abnormal size, shape, and organization as a result of ongoing irritation or inflammation
Edema
A collection of water in the interstitial space
Endogenous
Produced within the organism
Endotoxin
A substance contained in the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, generally released during the destruction of the bacteria by either the host organism’s defense mechanisms or by treatment with medications
Eukaryotes
One of the two major classes of cells found in higher life forms (more complex in structure)
Exogenous
Produced outside the organism
Exotoxin
Proteins released during the growth phase of the bacteria that may cause systemic effects
Extracellular Fluid (ECF)
The fluid found outside the cells
Facilitated Diffusion
Movement of substances across a membrane by binding to a helper protein integrated into the cell wall and highly selective about the chemicals allowed to cross the membrane
Gangrenous Necrosis
Tissue death over a large area
Gene
The biologic unit of inheritance, consisting of a particular nucleotide sequence with a DNA molecule that occupies a precise locus on a chromosome and codes for a specific polypeptide chain
Germ Theory
Controversial theory developed in the 1600s in which microorganisms were first identified as the possible cause of some disease processes
Glycolysis
Process by which glucose and other sugars are broken down to yield lactic acid (anaerobic glycolysis) or pyruvic acid (aerobic glycolysis). The breakdown releases energy in the form of ATP
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in Gram’s stain and that take the color of the red counterstain
Gram-Positive Bacteria
Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in Gram stain
Homeostasis
Balance; a stable environment in the human body
Hormones
Broad reaching chemical mediators released in one part of the body but with an effect in another part of the body
Hydration
Process of taking in fluids with the normal daily output
Hydrophilic
Attracts water molecules
Hydrophobic
Repels water molecules
Hydrostatic Pressure
Pressure exerted by a fluid from its weight
Hypercalcemia
A state in which the body has an abnormally high level of calcium
Hyperkalemia
A state in which the body has an abnormally elevated potassium level
Hypermagnesemia
A state in which the body has and abnormally elevated concentration of magnesium in the blood
Hyperplasia
Abnormal cell division that increase the number of a specific type of cell
Hypersensitivity Reaction
An immune response that is excessive beyond the bounds of normalcy to an point that it leads to damage (as with endotoxins) or is potentially damaging to the individual
Hypertonic
In a membrane, the side with the higher concentration in an imbalance in the ionic concentration from one side to the other
Hypertrophy
Enlargement or increase in the size of a cell or tissue
Hypocalcemia
A state in which the body has an abnormally low calcium level
Hypokalemia
A state in which the level of potassium in the serum falls below 3.5 mEq/L
Hypomagnesemia
A state in which the body has an abnormally low serum concentration of magnesium
Hypotonic
In a membrane, the side with the lower concentration when an imbalance exists in the ionic concentration from one side to the other
Incidence Rate
The rate of contraction of a disease versus how many are currently sick with the disease
Intercalated Discs
The cell-to-cell connection with gap junctions between cardiac muscle cells
Intracellular Fluid (ICF)
Fluid found within cells
Intravascular Compartment
Area consisting of fluid outside cells but inside the circulatory system; the majority of intravascular fluid is plasma, which is the fluid component of blood
Isotonic
A balance in the ionic concentration from one side of the membrane to the other
Lipid Accumulation
Accumulation of lipids in cells, usually asa result of the failure or inadequate performance of the enzyme that metabolizes fat
Lymphedema
Edema that follows when lymphatic pathways are blocked and fluid accumulates in the interstitial space
Margination
Process of phagocytes adhering to capillary and venule walls in the early phases of inflammation
Metabolism
Sum of all physical and chemical changes that occur within an organism
Metaplasia
The transformation of one type of mature differentiated cell into another type of mature differentiated cell
Mitosis
The process of cell division
Mortality Rate
The number of patients who have died from a disease in a given period
Mutate
To change in an unusual way
Mycoses
Disease caused by fungi
Natural Killer Cells
Specialized lymphocytes capable of killing infected or malignant cells
Neuroglia
Support cells that do not transmit nerve impulses but are critical to proper function
Neuron
A highly specialized cell responsible for converting stimuli into nerve impulses that move throughout the body
Normal Flora
Nonthreatening bacteria found naturally in the human body that, in some cases, are necessary for normal function
Nuclear Envelope
The outer boundary between the nucleus and the rest of the cell to the endoplasmic reticulum for protein synthesis
Oncotic Pressure
The net effect of opposing osmotic pressures in the capillary beds
Organ
A grouping of similarly functioning tissues that work together to accomplish certain functions
Organelles
Structures within cells that perform specialized functions
Organ Systems
The coordination of several organs working together
Osmolarity
The number, or concentration, of solutes per liter of water
Osmotic Gradient
The difference in the concentration from one side of the membrane to the other in the presence of an imbalance in the ionic concentration
Osmotic Pressure
The pressure exerted by the concentration of the solutes in a given space
Phagocytes
Cells that are part of the body’s immune system that play a predominant role in the destruction of invading microorganisms
Phospholipid bilayer
A double layer composed of three types of lipid molecules that comprise the plasma membrane
Plasma Membrane
Outer surface of the cell
Prevalence Rate
The fraction of the population that currently has a certain disease
Prokaryotes
One of the kingdoms of cells; simpler in structure and found in lower life forms such as bacteria
Pyrogenic
Substances, such as endotoxins from certain bacteria, that stimulate the body to produce a fever
Resistance
The ability of the body to defend itself against disease-causing microorganisms
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
Genetic material responsible for ribosome production
Saponification
A form of necrosis in which fatty acids combine with certain electrolytes to form soap
Septicemia
A serious medical condition characterized by vasodilation that leads to hypotension, tissue hypoxia, and eventually shock; usually caused by gram-negative bacteria; diagnosed by blood tests call cultures
Stem Cells
Formative cells whose daughter cells may give rise to other cell types
Stimuli
Anything that excites or incites an organism or part to function, become active, or respond
Susceptibility
Vulnerability or weakness; the opposite or resistance.
Thirst Mechanism
Sensation activated by cells in the hypothalamus when cells called osmoreceptors detect an imbalance in body water; as the body is replenished by drinking fluid, the osmoreceptors sense a return to baseline and turn off this mechanism
Tissue
A group of cells that are similar in structure and function
Total Body Water (TBW)
The total amount of fluid in the body at any given time
Transcellular Compartment
Compartment classified as extracellular but distinct because it is formed from the transport activities of cells; cerebrospinal fluid, bladder urine, the aqueous humor, and the synovial fluid of the joints are considered transcellular
Virions
Small particles of viruses
Virulence
A term to describe the relative pathogenicity or the relative ability to do damage to the host of an infectious agent
