Etiology Flashcards
The study of a cause of a disease
Etiology
A condition or situation that may make a person more susceptible to a disease.
-Age
-Race
-Nutritional status
-Gender
-Occupation
-Environment
-Emotional circumstances
-Economic status
-Genetics
Predisposing factor
A condition or situation that a person is born with or may contract later in life
Immediate cause
Pathological considerations that are initiated from outside the body
Exogenous
Pathological considerations that are initiated from inside the body
Endogenous
Exogenous pathological agent such as mechanical, thermal, or radiation
Physical agent
Exogenous pathological agent such as acids, poisons, or drugs
Chemical agents
Exogenous pathological agent such as West Nile virus, Ebola, Smallpox
Biological agents
Endogenous pathological agent such as hormonal changes, cancer, ASHD, and other diseases
Physiological agents
Hereditary
Endogenous pathological agent
Genetics
Caused by the mutation of a single gene.
Ex. Cystic fibrosis, Diabetes, Insipidus, Hemophilia
Endogenous pathological agent
Monogenic disorders
Caused by abnormalities in the number of chromosomes or by changes in the chromosomal structure.
Ex. Klinefelter syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
Endogenous pathological agent
Chromosomal disorders
Result from the interactions of many factors, hereditary and environmental.
Ex. Gout and Diabetes mellitus
Endogenous pathological agent
Multifactorial
What are the three ways the body protects itself against disease?
- Body structures and functions. Ex. tears, pH, intact skin, ect. to help block entry of germs into the body
- Leukocytes will engulf invading organisms at the site of infection
- Specific immune responses cause protective responses to foreign antigens
The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells
Immunity
