Module 1 Flashcards
What is a characteristic of health
Homeostasis: maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment in the body
What is a disease
definite pathological process with characteristics of signs and symptoms
What are examples of disease prevention
vaccinations, vision screening, BP clinics, reducing stress, prophylactic medications, dietary modification
What are prophylactic medications used for
prevent infection, excessive bleeding and other conditions
Health Science Research in 3 Stages
Stage 1: basic science (research) carried out in a lab and often requires the use of animals or cell/tissue cultures
Stage 2: involves a small number of human subjects to determine if therapy is safe
Stage 3: only takes place if the results of previous research are positive. It involves a large number of patients with the disease or risk for disease.
Macroscopics vs Microscopic
Macro: organ or system level
Micro: cellular level
What is Etiology
study of the cause or origin of a disease or disorder
What are examples of Etiological agents
- congenital defects
- inherited or genetic factors
- microorganisms and infections
- dysfunctions of the immune system
5.metobolic abnormalities - degenerative changes
- malignancy
- Burns or other trauma
- environmental factors
- nutritional deficiencies
What is Idiopathic
disease of unknown cause or spontaneous origin
what is Iatrogenic
disease that results from an activity/procedure or an error
What is Pathogenisis
Development of the disease or sequence of events involved in tissue/cell changes related to disease process
What does insidious mean
acute or sudden
What is a subclinical state
A state in the disease process when pathologic changes in the organ/tissue occur but no signs or symptoms are present
What is the latent stage
aka “silent” stage where clinical signs are absent.
What is the prodromal period
period of time during early development of disease when signs are non-specific. (ie. fatigue, loss of appetite, headache)
What is a lesion
term to describe a specific local change in the tissue. can occur at microscopic level or highly visible
What is a syndrome
refers to collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one organ
What is a precipitating factor
factor that triggers an acute episode
What is sequelae
potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition (eg. paralysis after a stroke)
Another word for convalescence
rehabilitation
What is morbidity
incidence or prevalence of a disease in a population (disease rate). the term is occasionally used to indicate the functional impairment of a certain condition or disease can cause
What is an endemic
refers to a disease that is normally always present in a specific region or culture
What is an epidemic
When a disease occurs at a greater frequency than usual in a population of a given area
what are 2 factors used to track the occurrence of a disease
- Incidence
- Prevelance
Are all notifiable (reportable) diseases also communicable diseases? Give an example.
No. An example is Lyme’s disease; it is a notifiable but not communicable disease.
Give an example where constant updating of a health issue is important in responding to a possible new health threat.
Eg. New information regarding the 2009-2010 swine flu outbreaks enabled scientists to develop a more effective vaccine, which probably contributed to the prevention of a potential pandemic.
Why is research in the health sciences often a lengthy process?
It involves three separate stages to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of a new therapy.
Why is something like a cold, a condition that obviously affects homeostasis, not considered a disease?
A disease refers to a change in homeostasis that is not restored without intervention. A cold will usually run its course and the body’s natural defenses will return to a normal homeostasis without intervention.
How does disease damage cells
-alterations in metabolic process
-reduduced levels of ATP
-altered pH of cytoplasm
-damage to the plasma
-membrane and its receptors
Which 2 ways is atrophy described
- physiologic- occurs with age and involves cells within the entire body.
- Pathologic- is a result of insufficient nutrition and or decreased stimulation (either neurological or hormonal)
What is hyperplasia
increased number of cells from an increased rate of cell division resulting in an enlarged tissue mass
Compensatory hyperplasia
a physiologic response, an adaptive mechanism that allows certain organs (e.g., the liver) to regenerate.
Pathologic hyperplasia
refers to the abnormal proliferation of normal cells and can be caused by excessive hormonal stimulation or the effect of growth factors on target cells. Under certain circumstances, this condition may represent an increased risk of cancer.
hormonal hyperplasia
also a physiologic response resulting from hormonal stimulation. This type of hyperplasia occurs mainly in estrogen-dependent organs such as the uterus and breast.
What is metaplasia
reversible change of one cell type into another
What is dysplasia
refers to abnormal change in size, shape and organization of mature cells. Large nuclei are generally present and the rate of mitosis is increased. This condition may be a result of chronic irritation, infection, or it may be a precancerous change.
What is anaplasia
refers to undifferentiated cells containing variable nuclear and cell structures as well as numerous mitotic figures. Anaplasia is characteristic of cancer.
What is another word for neoplasm
tumor- means “new growth”
What is apoptosis
cell damage that typically affects single cells (tidy process that does not trigger much inflammation) aka normal cell death
how can cells get injured
-Ischemia, a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue or organ, due to circulatory obstruction
-Physical agents, excessive heat or cold, or radiation exposure
-Mechanical damage such as pressure or tearing of tissue
-Chemical toxins
-Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites
-Abnormal metabolites accumulating in cells
-Nutritional deficits
-Imbalance of fluids or electrolytes
What and how does Ischemia occur
-it is a restriction of blood supply
-occurs when there is insufficient blood supply, usually from a functional constriction or physical obstruction of a blood vessel. The tissue will not receive adequate oxygen, resulting in reduced cellular metabolism
What is proptosis
results in the lysis or dissolution of the cell, releasing destructive lysosomal enzymes into the tissue, which cause inflammation (swelling, redness, and pain) as well as damage to nearby cells and reduced function.
What is necrosis
represents the sum of morphologic changes that indicates cell death. It may involve a group of cells, a tissue, part of a structure, or an organ.
What is gangrene
refers to an area of necrotic tissue, generally associated with a loss of vascular supply and often followed by bacterial invasion.
What are the 3 sub categories of gangrene
- dry
- wet
- gas
What is infarction
Area of dead cells resulting from a lack of oxygen
Explain how the condition of hyperplasia may eventually progress to neoplasia (cancer)
Hyperplasia involves the rapid increase in cell number, usually resulting in a larger cell mass. In the case of pathologic hyperplasia the increase is abnormal and could be a result of hormonal stimulation or effect on growth factors. This could in some cases lead to dysplasia in which the shape and structure of the cells also become abnormal. If the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells continues, a cancer may develop.
Explain why the formation of necrotic tissue from a microbial infection would not be attributed to the process of apoptosis.
Apoptosis involves cell death caused by normal processes—it is often called programmed cell death. There need not be any external factors involved as the cell’s death is determined by its genes.
