Medical Technology Flashcards
Disease definition
Condition that prevents an organism from functioning properly, not as a direct result of physical injury
Infectious disease cause + definition for cause
Pathogens: infective organism or particle that causes disease
What is an infected organism called
Host
Vector definition
Organisms that transmit pathogens from infected host to unaffected individual but are not affected by the pathogen
Examples of infectious diseases
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites
Why are viruses different?
NOT alive, don’t have any cells, needs to invade an organism’s cells to replicate its RNA
Infectious disease transmissions + simple definitions
Direct contact (human to human), Indirect contact (not human to human)
How are diseases passed through direct contact?
Though fluids and/or breaks in skin
Indirect contact transmission examples + definitions
- Airborne: through nose (coughing/sneezing)
- Waterborne: drinking contaminated water
Common vehicles: through mouth/injectables (e.g. eating contaminated food) - Vector borne: through skin or ingestion
- Fomites (non-living surfaces)
Non-infectious disease definition
Not transmitted from one person to another, caused by factors other than pathogens
Non-infectious disease causes examples
- Environmental exposure
- Life style (e.g. alcohol/drugs)
- Genetics (e.g. Type 1 Diabetes)
- Nutritional (eg. vitamin deficiencies)
- Ageing
- Psychological
Endemic definition
Amount of particular disease usually present in a localised community to a specific region or country
Epidemic definition
An increase, often sudden, in disease cases in a specific population above normal expectations
Pandemic definition
Epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents
Epidemic/Pandemic usually results from…
- Recent introduction of pathogen to new population with low immunity
First line of defence definition
Physical and chemical barriers (non-specific response)
Examples of physical barriers
- Skin
- Mucous in nose and mouth
- Cilia (tiny hairs)
Examples of chemical barriers
- Acid in stomach skills pathogens
- Vomiting, crying, coughing, sneezing, sweating
Second line of defence examples SIMPLE
Phagocytosis, Inflammation
Main role of inflammation
To increase blood flow
Third line of defence definition
Specific defence using white blood cells called lymphocytes produced to fight specific pathogens (released by phagocytes)
B lymphocytes purpose
Produce antibodies to destroy pathogens outside of body cells
Antibodies possible processes
- Bind directly to pathogen to kill it
- Bind pathogens together to be engulfed by phagocytes
- activate chemical toxins which destroy pathogens
T lymphocytes purpose
Destroy pathogens more directly by producing chemicals that destroy cells containing pathogens
