Pathology vocab Flashcards
abscess
localized accumulation of pus
acquired
a disease, condition or abnormality that is not hereditary or innate (present at birth)
acromegaly
hyperfunction of the pituitary gland after ossification has been completed
acute
a disease with a rapid onset and short duration
allergy
a hypersensitive immune response to a foreign substance
amelia
congenital absence of one or more limbs
anaplasia
condition of neoplastic cells indicating their loss of differentiation or their reversion to more primitive forms
anasarca
generalized edema in subcutaneous tissue
anemia
a decrease in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, or both
aneurysm
a localized dilation of a blood vessel
aplasia
failure of a tissue or an organ to develop normally
arteriosclerosis
disease of the arteries resulting in a thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls
ascites
accumulation of free serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
atherosclerosis
a form of arteriosclerosis marked by the deposition of lipids in the inner layer of arterial walls
atrophy
a wasting decrease in the size of an organ or tissue
autopsy / postmortem examination
a postmortem exam of the organs and tissues of a body to determine the cause of death or pathological condition
cachexia
a general state of ill health associated with emaciation
carbuncle
several communicating boils of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with the production and discharge of pus and dead tissues (multiple furuncles)
carcinoma
malignant neoplasm of epithelial origin
chronic
a disease with a more or less slow onset and long duration
cleft palate
congenitally malformed palate with a fissure along the midline
communicable
a disease that may be transmitted either directly or indirectly between individuals by an infectious agent
complication
an unfavorable condition arising during the course of the disease
concussion
the immediate and temporary disturbance of brain function as a result of brain trauma
congenital
present at birth
congestion
accumulation of an excess of blood or tissue fluid in a body part
contusion
a bruise, often accompanied by swelling
cretinism
a congenital condition due to hypothyroidism resulting in developmental disabilities
cryptorchism / cryptorchidism
failure of the testicles to descend into the scrotum
cyanosis
blueish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes (lips) due to lack of oxygen
cryobiology
science that treats the effects of low temperatures on biological systems
cyst
a closed sac or pouch with a definite wall that contains fluid, semi fluid, or solid material
deficiency
a condition due to lack of dietary or metabolic substance
definitive
final; ending
degeneration
the deterioration of tissues with corresponding functional impairment as a result of disease or injury
dehydration
loss of moisture from body tissue
diagnosis
the term denoting the name of the disease or syndrome; to recognize the nature of a disease
dilatation / dilation
the condition of the heart being enlarged due to stretching as a result of the disease
dry gangrene / ischemic necrosis
necrotic tissue due to reproduction in the arterial blood supply due to the body part that remains aseptic
dysplasia
abnormal development of tissue
ecchymosis
superficial bleeding under the skin or mucous membrane; a bruise
ectopic pregnancy
the implantation of the fertilized ovum outside of the uterus
edema
abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues or body cavities
emaciation
excessive wasting away of the body
embolism
a sudden obstruction of a blood vessel by debris
emphysema
over distension of pulmonary air sacs with air; the presence of air in tissues
empyema
a collection of pus in the body cavity, especially in the pleural space
endemic
a disease that is continuously present in a given population
epidemiology
the study of the distribution and determinants of disease and wellness in populations and the use of this data to enhance public health
epilepsy
a chronic neurological disease marked by sudden alterations in consciousness and frequently by convulsions
epistaxis
bleeding from the nose
erythrocytosis / polycythemia vera
an increase in the number of red blood cells
etiology
the study of the cause of a disease
exogenous
originates outside a cell, organ, or organism
exsanguination
loss of blood to the point where life can no longer be sustained
exudate
any fluid released by the body with a high concentration of proteins, cells, or solid debris
febrile
pertaining to or characterized by fever
fulminating
having rapid and severe onset, usually fatal
furuncle
an abscess or pyogenic infection of a sweat gland or hair follicle
gangrene
ischemic necrosis plus putrefaction
gas gangrene
necrosis of tissue by clostridium perfringens
general pathology
deals with the study of the widespread processes of disease, such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis, cellular death, repair, etc, without reference to particular organs or organ systems
goiter
enlargement of the thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency
gross pathology
study of changes in the structure of the body that are readily seen with the unaided eye as a result of the disease
hematemesis
vomiting of blood
hematoma
tumor like swelling of blood
hematuria
discharge of red blood cells in the urine
hemophilia
a hereditary bleeding disorder marked by a deficiency of blood clotting proteins
hemoptysis
blood in the sputum
hemorrhage
escape of blood from the blood vascular systemher
hereditary
genetic characteristics transmitted from parent to offspring
hernia
abnormal protrusion of part of an organ through an abnormal opening in the wall that normally contains it
hydrocele
abnormal collection of fluid in any sacculated cavity in the body, especially tunica vaginalis (balls)
hydrocephalus
excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain
hydronephrosis
distention of the pelvis and calyces of one or both kidneys with urine as a result of obstruction
hydropericardium
abnormal accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac
hydrothorax
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the thoracic cavity
hyperemia
excess of blood in an area of the body
hyperplasia
the increased size of an organ or part due to the excessive but regulated increase in the number of its cells
hypertrophy
the enlargement of an organ or part due to the increase in the size of cells composing it
hypoplasia
underdevelopment of tissue, organ, or the body
iatrogenic
any injury or illness that occurs as a result of medical care
idiopathic
of unknown cause (ex. essential hypertension)
infarction
the death of tissue due to lack of blood supply
infection
a disease caused by microorganisms, especially those that release toxins or invade body tissues
infestation
the presence in or on the body of macroscopic organisms
infiltration
the passage and accumulation of a substance into cells, tissues, or organs
inflammation
a tissue reaction to irritation, infection, or injury marked by localized heat, swelling, redness, pain, and sometimes loss of function
intoxication
state of being intoxicated, especially of being poisoned by a drug or toxic substance
ischemia
reduction in arterial blood supply
jaundice
yellowish discoloration of the tissue due to the presence of bilirubin in the blood. microorganisms can be considered the cause of a certain disease
lesion
a circumscribed area of pathologically altered tissue; an injury or a wound
leukemia
a malignancy of the hematopoietic tissue characterized by a massive increase in the number of white blood cells present in the body
leukocytosis
an increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood
leukopenia
abnormal reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood
lymphadenitis
inflammation of lymph node
lymphedema
an abnormal accumulation of tissue fluid in the interstitial space due to lymphatic disturbances
lymphoma
malignancy of lymphoid tissue
malformation / anomaly
a defect of deformity
medicolegal / forensic pathology
study of disease to ascertain cause and manner of death
melena
blood in stool
metaplasia
conversion of one kind of tissue into a form that is not normal for that tissue
metastasis
the transfer of a disease from its primary site to a distant location
histopathology / microscopic pathology
study of microscopic changes that cells, tissues, and organs undergo as a result of the disease
moist / wet gangrene
necrotic tissue that is wet as a result of inadequate venous drainage; may be accompanied by the invasion of saprophytic bacteria
morbidity rate
the number of cases per year of certain diseases in relation to the population in which they occur
mortality rate
the number of deaths in a given time or place or population of death to the population
necrosis
pathological death of cells, tissues, and organs while still a part of the living tissue
neoplasm / tumor
the abnormal excessive, and uncontrolled multiplication of cells with the formation of a mass or new growth of tissue
nosocomial
infections acquired in a healthcare setting
nosology
science of classification of disease
nuclear medicine
use of radioisotopes in medicine
occupational disease
a disease with an abnormally high rate of occurrence in members of the workplace
osteomalacia
an abnormal softening of the bones in adults
osteomyelitis
inflammation of bone and bone marrow
osteoporosis
loss of bone density
pandemic disease
epidemic widespread, even to a worldwide extent
pathological anatomy
study of structural change in the body caused by disease
pathology
the science that deals with the study of disease
pathogenesis
the origin and development of a disease
petechia
antemortem, pinpoint, extravascular blood discoloration visible as purplish hemorrhages of the skin
phocomelia
congenital condition in which the proximal portions of the limbs are poorly developed or absent
physiological pathology
study of changes in body functions due to disease
pigmentation
normal and pathological coloration of skin or tissues
pneumoconiosis
general term used to denote any prolonged inhalation of mineral dust
pneumonia
inflammation of the lungs due to an infection
pneumonitis
inflammation of supporting framework of the lung
poliomyelitis
an inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord as a result of a viral infection
polyp / polypus
a growth or mass of tissue that protrudes from a mucous membrane
prevalence
number of cases of disease present in a specified population at a given time
prognosis
prediction of the outcome of the disease
prostatitis
inflammation of the prostate gland
purpura
a condition in which spontaneous bleeding occurs in the subcutaneous tissues, causing the appearance of purple patches on the skin
pus
fluid product of inflammation, consisting of leukocytes, bacteria, dead tissue cells, foreign elements, and fluid from the blood
pustule
a small elevation of the skin containing pus
putrefaction
decomposition of proteins
recurrent
reappearance of symptoms after a period fo remission
regneration
the replacement of damaged cells with normal cells of the same type
regurgitation
backward flowing
remission
a cessation of symptoms of the disease
repair
the replacement of damaged tissue with fibrous connecting tissue
resolution
the termination of the inflammatory response with the affected part returning to its normal state (hemostasis)
rickets
a disease of infants and young children caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, resulting in defective bone growth
sarcoma
malignant neoplasm of non epithelial origin
signs
objective disturbances produced by disease; observed by physician, nurse, or person attending patient (ex. pulse, fever, heart rate)
special pathology
deals with the specific features of a disease in relation to particular organs or organ systems
spina bifida
congenital defect in which a part of the vertebral column is absent or incomplete closure
stenosis
abnormal constriction of a pathway or orifice
symptoms
subjective indication of the presence of disease
syndrome
set of signs and symptoms associated with a particular disease
teratoma
a congenital tumor formed by various types of tissues
thrombocytopenia
an abnormal decrease in the number of platelets in the blood
thrombosis
the formation or presence of an attached blood clot
ulcer
an open sore or lesion of the skin or mucous membrane accompanied by sloughing of inflamed necrotic tissue
uremia
a toxic condition caused by retention in the blood of waste products normally excreted in the urine
valvular insufficiency / incompetence
failure of a heart valve to close tightly, thus allowing regurgitation of blood
vesicle
blister like elevation of skin containing serous fluid
