Mechanisms of Disease

Question 1

Disease

Answer 1

Specific set of structural or functional abnormalities, as defined by characteristic signs and symptoms

Question 2

Signs (of disease)

Answer 2

Objective abnormalities that can be seen or measured by someone other than the patient.

Question 3

Symptoms

Answer 3

Subjective abnormalities felt only by the patient.

Question 4

Syndrome

Answer 4

Collection of different signs and symptoms, usually with a common cause, that presents a distinct picture of a pathological condition.

Question 5

Acute

Answer 5

Signs and symptoms appear suddenly, persist for a short time, then disappear.

Question 6

Chronic

Answer 6

Diseases that develop slowly and last for a long time.

Question 7

Etiology

ee-tee-OHL-oh-jee

Answer 7

Study of all factors involved in causing a disease (theory of a disease’s cause).

Question 8

Idiopathic

id-ee-oh-PATH-ik

Answer 8

Diseases with undetermined causes.

Question 9

Communicable or Infectious

Answer 9

Diseases can be transmitted from one individual to another.

Question 10

Pathogenesis

path-oh-JEN-eh-sis

Answer 10

Actual pattern of a disease’s development.

Question 11

Incubation

Answer 11

Latent stage of an infectious disease - signs of the disease are not evident.

Question 12

Remission

Answer 12

Temporary reversal of symptoms that seems to be a recovery.

Question 13

Epidemiology

EP-i-dee-mee-OHL-oh-jee

Answer 13

Study of the occurrence, distribution, and transmission of diseases in humans.

Question 14

Epidemiologists

Answer 14

Physicians or medical scientists who study patterns of disease occurrence in specific groups of people.

Question 15

Endemic

Answer 15

Disease that is native to a local region.

Question 16

Epidemic

Answer 16

Disease spreads to many individuals at the same time within a defined geographic region.

Question 17

Pandemics

Answer 17

Epidemics that spread throughout the world.

Question 18

Pathophysiology

Answer 18

Study of the underlying physiological processes associated with disease; a branch of pathology.

Question 19

Genetic Mechanism

Answer 19

Altered or mutated genes that can cause production of abnormal proteins.

Question 20

Infectious Mechanism

Answer 20

Pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms or particles that damage the body in some way.

Question 21

Neoplastic Mechanism

Answer 21

Abnormal tissue growths or neoplasms that can cause a variety of physiological disturbances.

Question 22

Traumatic Mechanism

Answer 22

Physical and chemical agents such as toxic or destructive chemicals, extreme heat or cold, mechanical injury (trauma), and radiation that can affect the normal balance.

Question 23

Metabolic Mechanism

Answer 23

Endocrine imbalances or malnutrition that cause insufficient or imbalanced intake of nutrients.

Question 24

Inflammatory Mechanism (Autoimmunity)

Answer 24

Faulty response or overreaction of the immune system that causes it to attack the body.

Question 25

Inflammatory Mechanism (Inflammation response)

Answer 25

Normal mechanism that usually speeds recovery from an infection or injury; response at inappropriate time or abnormally prolonged or severe, may damage normal tissues.

Question 26

Degeneration (Mechanism)

Answer 26

Breaking apart of tissues by means of many still unknown processes.

Question 27

Genetic Risk Factor

Answer 27

Inherited trait or membership in a certain ethnic group or gene pool involves ‘risk’ of a disease which affects that gene pool.

Question 28

Age Risk Factor

Answer 28

Biological and behavioral variations inherent during different phases of the human life cycle put us at greater risk for developing certain diseases at certain times in life.

Question 29

Lifestyle Risk Factor

Answer 29

The way we live and work can put us at risk for some diseases. Ex.: work outdoors and increased exposure to sun; developed countries high-fat, low-fiber at risk for certain colon cancers

Question 30

Stress Risk Factor

Answer 30

Physical, psychological, or emotional stress can put one at risk of developing problems (headaches, hypertension, depression, heart disease, and cancer).

Question 31

Environmental Risk Factors

Answer 31

Climate and pollution; or living in a location where some parasites survive only in that location (tropical).

Question 32

Preexisting Condition Risk Factors

Answer 32

Preexisting disease or infection can adversely affect our capacity to defend ourselves against further attack. Primary condition can put us at risk for a secondary condition.

Question 33

Combined Risk Factors

Answer 33

Risk Factors can combine can further increase a person’s chances of developing a specific disease even more.