Module 1: Foundations Flashcards
What is pathophysiology?
the study of the functional changes that happen to our cells, tissues and organs as a result of disease, injury, or condition
What are the 4 interrelated topics in pathophysiology?
-etiology
-pathogenesis
-clinical manifestations
-treatment
What is the difference between pathology and pathophysiology?
pathology is the study of structural changes in cells, tissues, and organs caused by disease or injury
pathophysiology studies the physiological/functional changes
Define biopsy
tissue removal from living individual
Define autopsy
tissue removal following death of individual
Define findings
the diagnostics; results of the laboratory and imaging tests utilized by the pathologist to determine diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment protocol
Define diagnosis
the identification of the specific disease
Define prognosis
the expected outcome of the disease
Define therapy/therapeutics
the method of treatment of the disease/illness with the goal of at least reducing the patient’s signs and symptoms to a level of (near) normal function
What is a pathogen?
the disease-causing organism (causative agent), also called antigen
What is pathogenicity?
the ability of a pathogen to cause disease
What determines pathogenic success?
-communicability
-virulence
-extent of tissue damage
-host susceptibility
Which is a better prognosis for the patient; high pathogenicity or low pathogenicity?
low
Which is a better prognosis for the patient; highly virulent strain or low virulence?
low
Which is a better prognosis for the patient; a highly susceptible host or a patient with low susceptibility?
low
Define etiology
the cause of the disease and/ or injury (can be genetic, congenital, and acquired)
What is genetic etiology?
-genetic abnormality
-inherited traits
-can be random/caused by environment
-clinical manifestations may be present at or shortly after birth or develop years later
What is the function of genes? What is gene expression?
-genes are specific regions of DNA; each codes for and regulates synthesis of a specific protein
-gene expression is the term for the process by which the information encoded in a particular gene is used to synthesize the specific protein product of the gene
What is congenital etiology?
-the result of a genetic defect, injury/exposure, or micronutrient deficiency that occurred during embryonic or fetal development in utero or during labour and delivery of the child (sometimes called a birth defect since disorder may be present before or after birth)
-include mental deficits, physical anomalies, structural malformations, and some diseases or syndromes
What period of time is embryonic development?
beginning of week 3 to end of week 8: the most dangerous period for intrauterine exposure to teratogens
What period of time is fetal development?
beginning of week 9 to end of week 36; developmental issues may still occur but usually not as severe as with embryonic exposure
What is the acronym TORCH for? And what does it stand for?
it is used to remember the common teratogens
T- toxoplasmosis (cat litter)
O- other (certain viruses, chemicals and bacteria)
R- rubella
C- cytomegalovirus (CMV)
H- herpes simplex 2 (genital)
What is acquired etiology?
-most common etiology category
-damage that occurs later in life
-general causes include infectious agents, physical agents, chemical agents, malnutrition, abnormal immune responses, and psychological agents
Define idiopathic
the cause of the disease is unknown
Define iatrogenic
the cause of the disease and/or injury is related to a medical intervention (surgery, drug side effects, etc.)
Define nosocomial
a disease acquired as a result of being in a hospital environment (ex. C. diff.)
What is the difference between predisposing risk factors and precipitating risk factors?
predisposing– increase the possibility of developing a disease or injury (NOT the cause)
precipitating– causes the disease or injury to develop
What are the two types of risk factors?
- modifiable risk factors– lifestyle, environment
- non-modifiable risk factors– age, genetics, biological sex
Define disease sequelae
unwanted outcomes of a disease or trauma that can lead to further, often chronic health issues– are often multisystemic and may be described as the complications of a particular disease (ex. long COVID)
Define comorbidity
2 or more diseases or medical conditions that are present in a patient at the same time (ex. having COVID and a pre-existing heart condition)
Define pathogenesis
-the pathologic, physiologic or biochemical pattern of tissue changes leading to development of disease
-consists of the chain of events that leads to the structural and/ or functional changes associated with the disease or injury
-explains how the disease evolves and progresses over time
-each stage of disease pathogenesis may produce characteristic signs and symptoms (clinical manifestations)
What are the two groups of cells/tissues found within an organ?
parenchyma and stoma
All organs are made of a combination of parenchymal and stromal tissues
Define parenchyma
functional cells of the organ– ex. skeletal muscle cells move bones and hormone secreting endocrine cells make hormones