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…
What is the condition called that does cause the disease to start (develop) or trigger its manifestation?
And, provide an example
- Precipitating factor
- Excessive stress, pushing you towards abnormality
What is the state of having a specific illness or condition?
And, provide an example
- Morbidity
- Hypertension
What is the state of having multiple disorders occurring at the same time?
- Co-morbidity
What is it called when an organism dies from a specific disease?
- Mortality
What is the number of deaths due to a specific cause in a particular population? That is calculated by dividing the number of deaths by the population at risk during a specific time frame.
This rate is expressed in population units, typically as “per 100,000 people.
- Mortality rate
What is a health condition that has a clearly defined reason behind it? Or when you can associate the signs & symptoms to a specific etiology
- Disease
What are signs & symptoms that occur together but can’t be related to a single or multiple etiology (from the Greek word meaning “run together”)?
However, may produce a number of symptoms without an identifiable cause.
And, provide examples
- Syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), down syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome etc…
What is the term that refers to a disturbance of normal functioning of the mind or body, & can also be used interchangeably with disease?
- Disorder
What is either the reduction or disappearance of the signs & symptoms of a disease called?
And, provide an example
- Remission
- Cancer
What is the worsening of a disease or an increase in its symptoms or signs? Which can happen after a period of remission
And, provide an example
- Exacerbation
- Such as, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD)
What is an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result of, a procedure, treatment, or illness?
And, provide an example
- Complication
- Complications of diabetes
What are residual effects that occur after the acute (initial, most severe) phase of an illness or injury: hemi- and quadriplegia, & any other changes that may be caused by neurological trauma?
Basically, some of the signs & symptoms that stay after that acute phase go away
- Sequelae
- After stroke for example, but depending on the location the patient might survive that acute phase, while some patients have facial expressions problems that occur after. Which can remain forever sometimes.
What is the term called that refers to a disease that arises spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause?
- Idiopathic disease
What is the causation of a disease, a harmful complication, or other ill effects by any medical activity, including diagnosis, intervention, error, or negligence called?
- Iatrogenic (i·at·ro·gen·ic)
What is the term called that refers to hospital-acquired infections & diseases or also called healthcare-related infections?
And, provide an example
- Nosocomial
- Most commonly as infection
