L2: Introduction to Health and disease Flashcards
What is health?
a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
What is disease?
any harmful deviation from the normal structural/functional state of an organism
What is physiology?
the study of the normal functioning of the body and its systems
What does physiology provide detailed understanding of?
how the body systems and processes work under normal healthy conditions
- cellular mechanisms
- system functions
- homeostasis
What does knowing how systems should function help in? (2)
- recognising deviations from the norm
- understanding the baseline from which abnormalities arise
What does physiology provide insight to?
The mechanisms behind body functions
What is physiology essential for? (4)
understanding
- how diseases alter mechanisms
- compensatory processes and the bodies response to abnormalities
- diagnosing diseases based on changes in normal function
- designing effective treatments that restore normal physiological function
What is homeostasis?
The regulation of the body’s internal environment to an approximately “constant” state
What type of equilibrium is homeostasis?
dynamic
Examples of homeostasis
- body temp
- body pH
- blood pressure
- heart rate
- blood sugar
- ion balance
What are the disease classifications?
- temporal classification (acute, chronic)
- aetiology based (infectious, autoimmune, genetic diseases)
- anatomical or organ system (cardiovascular, neurological)
- morphological or structural classification (tumors, cyst)
Why does homeostasis matter?
biochemical reactions take place at an optimum temperature and pH
What is pathophysiology?
the study of structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs during disease
What is pharmacology?
The study of the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs in a biological system
What is the link between pathophysiology and pharmacology?
drugs are designed to counteract the underlying physiological disruptions involved in disease
