General Terminology Flashcards
What is the study of normal functions of the body systems called?
- Physiology
What is the term that refers to the diagnosis of diseases through examining the body’s tissues?
- Pathology
What is the process of development of disease in steps called? Can also be described as the development of a disease and the chain of events leading to that disease.
The process by which bacteria cause infectious illness
Most diseases are caused by multiple processes. For example, certain cancers arise from dysfunction of the immune system (skin tumours & lymphoma after a renal transplant, which requires immunosuppression).
- Pathogenesis
What is the study of the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition?
- Etiology
What is the study of changes in physiology or the disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury?
- Pathophysiology
What are objective alterations that can be observed or measured ? And, provide an example
- Signs
- Such as vital signs
What are subjective experiences reported by the patient?(Representing the complaint of the patient) And, provide examples
- Symptoms
- Headaches, dizziness etc..
What is a sudden appearance of signs and symptoms that lasts a short period of time? And, provide an example
- Acute illness
- Influenza
What is a human health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time? Slowly developing signs and symptoms, which last for 3 months or more. And, provide examples
- Chronic illness
- Arthritis, heart diseases, diabetes etc..
What is the number of new occurrences of a condition (or disease) in a population over a specific period of time?
- Incidence
What is the occurrence of a condition at a particular time “picture,” which includes both new&existing cases?
- Prevalence
What are vague nonspecific symptoms, before the onset of specific symptoms? And, provide examples
- Prodromal Symptoms
- Headaches, fatigue, low mood, difficulties concentration etc…
What is a description for any disease that comes on slowly &does not have obvious symptoms at first? And, provide an example
- Insidious disease
- Cancer
What is the term that refers to when there are no symptoms present, but the disease is progressing? The time between being exposed to something that can cause disease (such as radiation or a virus) & having symptoms
And, provide an example
- Latent
- Shingles
What is a risk factor that increases the probability of disease occurrence?
And, provide examples
- Predisposing factors
- Obesity, smoking, inactivity etc…