Nature of Disease Flashcards by Heather Clark

The science that deals with the study of disease, which involves changes in the body structure and function.

Pathology

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Cause of disease.

Etiology

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Natural history and development of disease.

Pathogenesis

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Study of structural changes in the body caused by disease.

Pathological anatomy (morbid anatomy)

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Study of changes in structure of the body that are readily seen with the unaided (naked) eye as a result of disease. e.g., autopsy

Gross pathology

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Study of microscopic changes that cells, tissues and organs undergo as a result of disease. e.g., biopsy

Microscopic pathology (histopathology)

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Study of tissue specimens excised surgically in a major or minor operation.

Surgical pathology

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Study of disease by means of body secretions, excretions, and other body fluids (tissues, blood, urine) performed in the laboratory in the diagnosis of a disease.

Clinical pathology

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The study of changes in body functions due to disease.

Physiological pathology (pathophysiology)

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Study of disease to ascertain cause and manner of death, concerned with accidents and homicides, without regard to any particular organ or system; may use autopsy to determine cause of death.

Medico-Legal (forensic) pathology

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Deals with study of widespread processes of disease such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis or cellular death, repair, without reference to particular tissue, organ, or system of organs.

General pathology

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Deals with specific features of disease in relation to particular tissue, organ, or organ systems.

Special pathology

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Postmortem (after-death) examination of the body organs and tissues to determine cause of death or pathological conditions.

Autopsy (Necropsy)

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Confirm, amplify, reject or alter clinical diagnosis
Advance medical knowledge and research
Assist in medicolegal cases to determine identification of deceased, cause (injury or disease) and manner (natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined) or death
Alleviate concerns of “Family members”

Importance of Autopsy

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A public officer whose chief duty os to investigate questionable deaths; responsible for identification of a dead body, and investigating deaths.

Coroner

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Almost always officials of the state government or of the local county government.

Coroner

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Usually not a medical doctor

In some places (rural areas) the local funeral director holds this post.

Coroner

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A forensically trained physician (medical doctor) whose duty is to investigate questionable or unattended deaths (has replaced the coroner in some states); officially authorized by the government.

Medical Examiner

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Ascertains causes of deaths, especially those not occurring under natural circumstances

Medical Examiner

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Examines employees of a particular firm or applicants for life insurance.

Medical Examiner

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In some jurisdictions, must be both a doctor and a lawyer.

Medical Examiner

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essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized.

Nature

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State of functional disequilibrium, change in function or structure (at organ or system level) that is considered to be abnormal.
May be result from infection, genetic defect, environmental factors or stress.
Characterized by signs or symptoms.

Disease

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More or less rapid onset and short duration

Acute

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More or less slow onset and long duration

Chronic

A disease starts at the cell level > proceeds to the tissue > organs > the whole body -severity depends on which organs are diseased and the interdependence of other organs to the diseased organ.

Virchow's Cellular Theory of Disease

Include the heart, lungs, brain, liver, pancreas, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.

Vital Organs

The term denoting the naming of disease or syndrome; to recognize the nature of a disease (through evaluation of patient's history, examination and laboratory data).

Diagnosis

Prediction of the outcome of disease

Prognosis

Unfavorable condition arising during the course of disease.

Complication

Aftermath of a particular disease (e.g. damage to the heart after rheumatic fever)

Sequel

Specific pathogenic structural or functional changes, or both brought about by disease or injury.

Lesion

Objective disturbances produced by disease, observed by physician, nurse, or person attending patient. (e.g., pulse, fever, heart rate)

Signs

Subjective disturbances caused by disease that are felt or experienced by patients but not directly measurable (e.g., pain, headache).

Symptoms

A set or signs and symptoms, associated with a particular disease; e.g. crushing syndrome results from excess steroids, adrenal hyperplasia, or pituitary tumor

Syndrome

Pertaining to or characterized by fever

Febrile

Existing at the time of birth or shortly thereafter

Congenital

Genetic condition transmitted from parent to offspring

Hereditary

Present after birth

Acquired

Having rapid or severe onset, usually fatal

Fulminating

Temporary cessation of symptoms of disease

Remission (abatement)

reappearance of symptoms after a period of remission

Recurrence (relapse)

Increase in severity of disease

Exacerbation

A disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another

Communicable

Number of cases of disease present in a specified population at a given time

Prevalence

allow to determine the impact, significance and likelihood of a disease for a given population, data is used to direct healthcare resources and research.

Prevalence

The manner in which a disease develops

Pathogenesis

A disease that is continuously present in a community, has low mortality, e.g., measles

Endemic

A disease that is currently in higher than normal numbers

Epidemic

Epidemic, widespread, worldwide event

Pandemic

Disease that occurs occasionally in a random or isolated manner

Sporatic

Number of deaths in a given time or place or proportion of deaths to a population

Mortality rate

Relative incidence of a disease in the population or number of cases in a given time at a given population.

Morbidity rate

Of unknown cause | e.g. primary essential hypertension

Idiopathic

Results from the adverse activity of medical personnel

Iatrogenic

Infection acquired in a hospital

Nosocomial

A disease with an abnormally high rate of occurrence in members of the workforce.

Occupational

State of being poisoned by a drug or toxic substance; chemical poisoning

Intoxication

Harboring of animal parasites, especially macroscopic forms, such as ticks or mosquitos.

Infestation

Hypersensitivity to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction of the immune system.

Allergies

A condition or disease in which there is no recognizable change in anatomy.

Functional

A condition or disease in which there is a change in anatomy

Organic (structural)

Disease due to lack of dietary or metabolic substance.

Deficiency

The state or condition in which the body or a part of it is invaded by a pathogenic agent that. under favorable conditions, multiplies and produces injurious effects.

Infection

Conditions that make someone more likely to develop illness (susceptible to disease).

Predisposing Factors

low immunity, e.g., newborns and elderly

Age

Predisposition due to hereditary and geographical factors e.g., sickle cell anemia.

Race

Predisposition due to genes. | e.g. coronary heart disease, breast and cervical cancers.

Genetics

Higher predisposition based on whether or you are man or woman. men- lung cancer, gout, parkinson's women- osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis

Gender

Higher predisposition due to place of work. eg, miners getting lung diseases.

Occupation

Predisposition due to living area. e.g., air and water pollution, overcrowded areas.

Environment

Predisposition due to income

Economic status

Predisposition due to malnutrition or obesity

Nutritional status

Personality types might suppress immunity

Emotional

Alcoholism, smoking, fatigue

Other predispositions

Actual causes, immediately produce disease, or excite the action of predisposing causes. e. g., exciting eye- the eye that sustains a penetrating injury and causes an inflammatory reaction in the fellow eye. - plant or animal parasites

Exciting causes of disease

Entity responsible for death at the time of the terminal event or prior to and leading to the terminal event.

Basic cause of death

Mechanical (trauma-physical injury from an external force, e.g., falls, gunshot wounds, or stabbing = sharp force injury) thermal radiation

Exogenous Physical Agents

An example is pollutants, outside irritants

Exogenous Chemical Agents

Microorganisms that cause cell or tissue damage

Biological Agents (exogenous)

Physiological, immunologic (such as allergies, autoimmune, immune deficiencies), genetic (heredity or chromosomal), deficiency of essential substances (lack of dietary or metabolic substances, malnutrition).

Endogenous Etiology