Session 1: Human Disease Definitions

Question 1

Health

Answer 1

The condition in which the human body performs its vital functions normally. Health depends on the body maintaining homeostasis.

Question 2

Homeostasis

Answer 2

The tendency of the body to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes. In homeostasis, the body’s organ systems normally main temperature, pH, blood composition, and fluid levels within a precise range and correct any fluctuations before they threaten the body’s health.

Question 3

Disease

Answer 3

A deviation from normal structure or function in the body that interrupts or modifies the performance of vital functions. A significant disturbance in the homeostasis of the body leads to disease.

Question 4

Pathology

Answer 4

The study of disease, especially the structural and functional changes associated with disease. Pathologists examine cells, tissues, and organs to find clues about the nature of disease.

Question 5

Disorder

Answer 5

A functional abnormality not necessarily linked to a specific cause or physical abnormality.

Question 6

Acute disease

Answer 6

A disease that has a sudden onset and short duration.

Question 7

Autoimmune disease

Answer 7

A disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake.

Question 8

Chronic disease

Answer 8

A disease that develops slowly and has a long duration of months or years.

Question 9

Congenital disease

Answer 9

A disease that is present at birth

Question 10

Diagnosis

Answer 10

The process of identifying a disease or disorder. This involves performing a thorough physical examination and evaluating the results of laboratory tests, imaging tests, and other tests.

Question 11

Endemic

Answer 11

This word refers to a disease that always occurs at low levels in a population.

Question 12

Epidemic

Answer 12

This word refers to a disease that occurs in unusually large numbers over a specific area. Influenza often occurs as epidemics.

Question 13

Epidemiology

Answer 13

The study of the occurrence, transmission, distribution, and control of disease in a population. Epidemiologists use prevalence and incidence data and information about the geographic distribution of disease to develop methods to prevent and control diseases.

Question 14

Etiology

Answer 14

The cause of a disease

Question 15

Hereditary disease

Answer 15

A disease caused by an abnormality in a person’s genes or chromosomes.

Question 16

Iatrogenesis

Answer 16

Any adverse condition that occurs as a result of medical care.

Question 17

Idiopathic

Answer 17

A disease with an unknown cause

Question 18

Incidence

Answer 18

The number of newly diagnosed cases of a disease

Question 19

Infectious disease

Answer 19

A disease caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).

Question 20

Leading causes of death

Answer 20

According to the CDC, the leading causes of death in the United States are:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases
• Stroke

Question 21

Microorganism

Answer 21

An organisms that is too small to be seen by the unaided human eye.

Question 22

Morbidity

Answer 22

Another term for illness. A person can have several illnesses (co-morbidities) simultaneously.

Question 23

Mortality

Answer 23

Death

Question 24

Noninfectious disease

Answer 24

A disease that is caused by an environmental factor or by something other than a microorganism.

Question 25

Nosocomial infection

Answer 25

An infection acquired in a health care setting.

Question 26

Opportunistic infection

Answer 26

An infection by a microorganism that normally does not cause disease but becomes pathogenic when the body’s immune system is impaired and is unable to fight off infection.

Question 27

Organism

Answer 27

An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.

Question 28

Pandemic

Answer 28

This word refers to an epidemic that has spread to include several areas worldwide.

Question 29

Pathogen

Answer 29

A disease-causing microorganixm

Question 30

Bacteria

Answer 30

Microscopic, single-celled organisms without a nucleus.

Question 31

Viruses

Answer 31

Infectious agents with a core of genetic material wrapped in a protein coat. Viruses are much smaller than a bacterium or fungus. They cannot reproduce on their own. They must invade a living cell and use that cell’s machinery to reproduce.

Question 32

Fungi

Answer 32

Single-celled or multi-celled organisms. Fungi live outdoors in soil and on plants as well as on many indoor surfaces and on human skin. Fungi can be true pathogens that cause infections in health persons or they can be opportunistic pathogens that cause infections with a weakened immune system.

Question 33

Helminths

Answer 33

Parasitic worms. Parasites are organisms that survive by living inside another, usually much larger organism (host).

Question 34

Protozoa

Answer 34

Single-celled microorganisms that have a nucleus. Protozoa are a type of parasite.

Question 35

Prions

Answer 35

An infectious agent composed only of protein.

Question 36

Prevalence

Answer 36

The total number of cases of disease existing in a population.

Question 37

Prognosis

Answer 37

To predict the course of a disease and estimate the chance for recovery.

Question 38

Risk factor

Answer 38

A characteristic, condition, or behavior that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease.

Question 39

Sign

Answer 39

Evidence of disease observed on physical examination. Signs are apparent to observers, as opposed to symptoms, which may be obvious only to the patient. The objective evidence of disease.

Question 40

Syptom

Answer 40

Indications of disease as reported by the patient. The subjective experience of the disease.

Question 41

Syndrome

Answer 41

An abnormal structure or function characterized by a group of signs and symptoms that usually occur together.

Question 42

Virulence

Answer 42

The ability of a microorganism to produce disease; the disease evoking power of a microorganism.