Chapter Three-Diseases and Disorders Flashcards
Pathologic
Abnormal or diseased.
Disease
Abnormal function of a body part or system due to hereditary, infectious, dietary, environmental, or other causes and characterized by a certain set of signs and symptoms.
Etiology
Literally, the study of the causes of a disease; informally, the causes themselves.
Cells
The primary building blocks of biologic tissue.
Microorganism
An extremely small life form invisible to the unaided eye. Also called microbe.
Virus
A microorganism smaller than the smallest bacterium that has no cellular structure and can cays infectious disease.
Infection
The invasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms in the body tissues; a local bacterial or fungal infection begins in the tissues immediately surrounding the microorganism’s point of entry; if unchecked, the infection may spread to surrounding tissues, thereby becoming diffuse.
Inflammation
A local protective tissue response to infection, injury or irritation in which specialized cells move to the affected area; characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the inflamed area.
Acute
Refers to a condition that flares up suddenly and persists for only a short time.
Chronic
Refers to a condition that has persisted for some time.
Immune Reaction
The body’s response to infection, in which antibodies are manufactured to neutralize the infecting microorganism and perhaps prevent recurrence of the infection.
Antibody
A chemical substance that the body manufactures to neutralize an infecting microorganism, toxin, or foreign agent.
Allergic Reaction
A condition in which the body produces antibodies to foreign materials such as food, plant pollens, or medications.
Ischemia
A condition in which the supply of blood to a part of the body is severely reduced.
Occluded
Totally obstructed or blocked.
Hypoxia
A loss of oxygen.
Metabolism
The physical and chemical processes by which the body converts food into energy and new body tissues.
Enzymes
Substance produced by cells to accelerate or promote a biochemical reaction.
Hormones
Regulating substances produced by various endocrine glands (such as the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal), and transported by the blood to targeted organs to initiate a specific reaction or effect.
Hyperthyroidism
The disease complex caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormone.
Cushing Disease
The disease complex caused by excessive secretion of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Predominately found in women. Also known as hypercortisolism or Cushing syndrome.
Diabetes Mellitus
A disorder of metabolism resulting from insufficient or absent insulin production from the pancreas; may also be due to insulin resistance.
Insulin
A hormone of the body that regulates sugar metabolism.
Congenital
Refers to any disease process or effect that is present from birth.
Genetic
Refers to a trait that is inherited from either or both parents.
Degenerative
Refers to any process in which the structure or function of body tissues gradually deteriorates.
Neoplasm
A new growth of different or abnormal tissue, such as a tumor or wart.
Benign
Refers to any tumor that is not dangerous to the well-being of the individual. Also known as nonmalignant.
Malignant
Term used to describe a condition that tends to become worse and to cause severe problems or death; malignant myopia refers to am unusually severe myopia that causes other progressive problems; a malignant skin lesion is one that is cancerous with the potential to spread.
Metastasize
The transfer of disease from one organ or part to another not directly connected, forming a new distant location of that disease.
Trauma
Physical injury to body tissue from various causes, including force, toxins, or temperature extremes.
Toxin
A poison.
Thermal Trauma
Refers to injury that results in the burning or freezing of tissues.
Chemical Trauma
Refers to injury caused by a chemical, such as an acid or an alkali.
Symptom
A subjective abnormality that cannot be directly observed by another person but only perceived by the patient; examples include pain, blurred vision, or itching.
Sign
An abnormal change observed objectively by the physician on examination of the patient.
Syndrome
A set of signs or symptoms that is characteristic of a specific condition or disease.
Proptosis/Exopthalmos
A condition characterized by a protruding eyeball; caused by an increase in volume of the orbital contents.
Graves Disease
A condition of unknown origin that involves the thyroid gland and causes soft tissues surrounding the globe to swell.
Unilateral Proptosis
The forward protrusion of one eyeball from the eye socket.
Hemorrhage
Rapid loss of a large amount of blood from a damaged blood vessel.
Edema
Swelling caused by the abnormal presence of fluid in tissues.
Orbital Cellulitis
A diffuse infection of tissues in the orbit, causing grossly swollen eyelids and red eye, sometimes without proptosis.
Sinus
A bony cavern of the skull that contains air and connects with the nasal passages.
Blowout Fracture
An injury caused blunt force applied to the eye, creating pressure that fractures the orbital bone.
Strabismus
A misalignment of the eyes that may cause vision to be disturbed; occurs when the extraocular muscles do not work in a coordinated manner.
Diplopia
Double vision.
Exo Deviation
The outward deviation of the eye.
Eso Deviation
The inward deviation of the eye.
Tropia
An obvious (manifest) misalignment of the eyes.
Phoria
A tendency toward ocular misalignment that is held in check by the fusional effort of the extraocular muscles.
Stereopsis
Three-dimensional visual perception.
Suppression
The brain’s mechanism to avoid double vision by ignoring the image from one eye. This can lead to amblyopia if not treated. The brain loses this ability after childhood.
Amblyopia
Decreased vision perception without apparent abnormalities in the ocular anatomy and uncorrectable by spectacle or contact lenses; results from visual deprivation in early childhood.
Nystagmus
A condition in which the eyes continually shift in a rhythmic, side-to-side, up-and-down, or rotary motion and then snap back to the normal position.
Abscess
A localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.
Stye/External Hordeolum
An infection or inflammation of a Zeis gland located on the eyelid margin in a lash follicle.
Incise
To make a deliberate and controlled cut into body tissue.
Internal Hordeolum
An acute infection of a meibomian gland in the eyelid; when chronic, the condition is called a chalazion.
Granulomatous
A term used to describe a mass lesion resembling a granuloma.
Chalazion
A chronic inflammation resulting from an obstructed meibomian gland, in the eyelid; associated with infection.
Blepharitis
A common inflammation of the eyelid margin.
Ptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid most commonly caused by the levator muscle’s inability to lift the eyelid to its full extent. May be congenital or acquired.
Oculomotor Nerve
The third cranial nerve, which supplies the impulses that activate the superior, medial, and inferior rectus muscles, the inferior oblique muscle and the levator palpebrae.
Ectropion
A condition in which the eyelid margin is everted (turned) outward from the globe; may be degeneration of or damage to the eyelid tissues.
Entropion
A condition in which the upper or lower lid margin is turned inward.
Trichiasis
An abnormality of the eyelid margin of the eyelid that causes eyelashes to turn in the wrong direction and rub against the surface of the eye.
Lagophthalmos
A condition in which the globe is not completely covered when the eyelids are closed; may be caused by facial-nerve paralysis or by an enlarged or protruding eye.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common malignant lid tumor; has a characteristic appearance of a pit surrounded by raised “pearly edges.”
Dacryocystitis
Inflammation of the lacrimal sac; usually caused by blockage or obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.
Keratoconjunctuvitis Sicca
Inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by dry eye.
Conjunctivitis
An inflammation of the conjunctiva that causes swelling of the small conjunctival vessels, making the eye appear red; it may be caused by bacterial or viral infection, allergy, or exposure to environmental agents such as. Hole instead swimming pool water. Also known as pink eye.
Mucopurulent Discharge
A thick fluid containing mucus and pus; symptomatic of bacterial infection.
Topical Application
A route of drug administration in which the medication is applied to the surface of the eye or another body part; topically applied medications may be in form of liquids, gels, or ointments.
Ophthalmia Neonaturum
Conjunctivitis in the newborn.
Subconjunctival Hemmorhages
A rupture of a conjunctival blood vessel that allows blood to flow under the tissue and produces a bright-red flat area on the conjunctiva.
Pinguecula
A thickened, benign, yellowish area of the bulbar conjunctiva on the temporal or nasal side of the cornea in the exposed portion of the eyeball. May precede pterygium.
Pterygium
A lesion of hypertrophied tissue that extends from the medial canthus onto the cornea.
Nevi
Literally, freckles; common tumors involving the retina, bulbar conjunctiva, and skin, and appearing as yellowish pink or brown area.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea.
Abrasion
A scratch.
Laceration
A traumatic cut.
Lesions
An abnormal tissue or break in a normal tissue.
Corneal Ulcer
Pathological condition involving a defect in the corneal surface and associated with inflammation; infectious ulcers are caused by a pathogenic microorganism.
Hypopyon
The accumulation of pus (white blood cells) in the anterior chamber.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
A herpesvirus that causes recurrent fever blisters on the lips and mouth and, if introduced to the eye, causes keratitis.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2
Similar to type 1, except that it more commonly infects the genital region and is spread by sexual contact.
Dendritic
Branch-shaped, such as the corneal ulcers seen after an infection with the herpes simplex virus.
Arcus Senilis
A common degenerative change in which the outer edge of the cornea gradually becomes opaque, generally in both eyes; usually affects people over the age of 50.
Keratoconus
A rare degenerative corneal disease in which the center of the cornea thins and assumes the shape of a cone, seriously affecting vision.
Scleritis
Inflammation of the sclera.
Episcleritis
Inflammation of the surface layer of the sclera.
Hyphema
The pooling of blood in the anterior chamber as a result of trauma or certain diseases.
Glaucoma
An eye disease in which the intraocular pressure is high enough to cause damage to the optic nerve, resulting in visual loss; caused by impaired drainage of the aqueous fluid out of the eye.
Intraocular Pressure
Fluid pressure within the eye.
Visual Field
The full view seen by an eye that is fixating straight ahead.
Pachymeter
An instrument that measures the distance between the corneal epithelium and the corneal endothelium (corneal thickness).
Primary open-angle glaucoma
A form of glaucoma in which the pressure inside the eye is elevated because of increased resistance to aqueous drainage in the outflow channels; accounts for 60% to 90% of all adult glaucoma.
Primary angle-closure glaucoma
A form of glaucoma associated with a structural abnormality of the eye resulting in a shallow anterior chamber angle; also as the lens increases in size with aging, it blocks the flow of aqueous through the pupil, gradually causing the iris to bow forward until its outer edge blocks the aqueous outflow channels (pupillary block).
Secondary glaucoma
Glaucoma that occurs secondary to another, primary disease.
Congenital glaucoma
A rare disease that occurs in infants; due to a malformation of the anterior chamber angle.
Iritis
Inflammation of the iris.
Neovascularization
The abnormal growth of new blood vessels.
Rubeosis iridis
A condition in which the iris develops a reddish color due to neovascularization.
Aniscoria
A condition in which the pupils are of unequal size.
Presbyopia
The progressive loss of the accommodative ability of the lens, due to natural process of aging.
Cataract
An opacified or clouded lens.
Aphakia
The absence of the crystalline lens, usually because of cataract extraction.
Aphakic correction
The absence of the crystalline lens, eyeglasses, or an intraocular lens to improve visual acuity in aphakic patients.
Pseudophakia
The use of an intraocular lens to correct the vision of an aphakic patient.
Floaters
Small particles of dead cells or other debris that become suspended in the vitreous, or particles of the vitreous itself that degenerate in the normal aging process; they cast shadows on the retina and appear as spots or cobwebs.
Endophthalmitis
A serious inflammation of the intraocular tissues including the vitreous; may be due to bacterial or fungal infection, allergy, or chemical toxicity.
Posterior vitrectomy
The surgical removal of some or most of the vitreous.
Retinal Detachment
The separation of the sensory layer from the pigment layer of the retina; may be abbreviated RD. There are 3 causes: rhegmatogenous (tear or hole), traction (pulling off by scar tissue), and exudative (fluid accumulation).
Cryopexy
Freezing by surgical means.
Photocoagulation
Use of xenon or laser light beam to destroy tissues; among other uses, it is often used to treat abnormal leaking blood vessels (neovascularization) or to “weld” a retinal tear.
Pneumatoretinopexy
A surgical procedure for correcting retinal detachment by injecting gas into the eye.
Scleral Buckle
A surgical procedure for correcting retinal detachment that involves placing a block of silicone or other material on the sclera to indent the wall of the eye.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Pathologic changes in the retina; usually occurs in patients with long-standing, poorly controlled diabetes.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Abnormal changes in the retina due to poorly controlled diabetes Mellitus, manifested by the presence of hemorrhages, exudates, microaneurysms, and neovascularization. This is a more advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
An infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes a compromised immune system.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
A retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disorder of the immune system that increases the patient’s susceptibility to infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A disease in which sensory cells of the macula degenerate, resulting in a loss of central vision; usually affects older people.
Drusen
Light-yellow deposits beneath the retinal pigment epithelium, visible on examination of the ocular fundus.
Atrophic
Loss of tissue or cellular density.
Neovascular Net/Choroidal Neovascularization
An abnormal collection of fragile new blood vessels growing in the choroid under the retina, responsible for hemorrhages and fluid leakage, which can lead to loss of central vision when present in or near the macula.
Laser Photocoagulation
Use of a xenon or laser light beam to destroy tissue; among other uses, it is often used to treat abnormal leaking blood vessels (neovascularization) or to “weld” a retinal tear.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
A treatment intended to reduce further vision loss from the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD); the patient receives an intravenous injection of a light-sensitive substance, verteporfin (Visudyne), followed by “cold” laser stimulation of the verteporfin in the areas of choroidal neovascularization, causing selective damage to the abnormal tissue.
Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF)
A therapeutic drug used in intravitreal injections that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It acts by diminishing the stimulus for abnormal new vessel growth (angiogenesis), a known cause of wet age-related macular degeneration.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
A hereditary, progressive retinal degeneration that may lead to blindness.
Vascular Occlusions
The obstruction of blood flow in a bleed vessel.
Hypoxia
A loss of oxygen.
Intracranial
The cavity in the skull that houses the brain.
Papilledema
A swelling of the optic disc with engorged blood vessels; caused by increased fluid pressure within the skull.
Optic Neuritis
Inflammation of the optic nerve; can produce a sudden, but reversible, loss of sight.
Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve head resulting in a lack of oxygen and subsequent infarction of (loss of) the nerve fibers and loss of vision.
