Unit 1-Divisions of Pathology, Terminology, Nature & Etiology of Disease Flashcards
What is the importance of pathology to the funeral service professional?
- discover the Etiology and pathogenesis of disease
- understand medical terminology
- emphasize potential health hazards and complications from certain diseases
- understand autopsy techniques and benefits
- understand the importance of medical research
Pathology
The study of nature and cause of disease which involves changes in body structure and function.
Anatomic pathology
(Morbid anatomy) deals with structural changes in disease
Gross pathology
Study of changes in body structures that result from disease and are readily seen with the naked eye
Microscopic pathology
(Histopathology) the study of microscopic changes that cells, tissues, and organs undergo as a result of disease
Surgical pathology
Study of tissue specimens excised surgically in a major or minor operation
Clinical pathology
Study of disease by means of body secretions, excretions, and other body fluids. performed in the laboratory in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease
Physiological pathology
(Pathophysiology) the study of changes and physiological processes (body functions) due to disease
Medicolegal (forensic) pathology
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
General Pathology
Deals with the study of widespread processes of disease such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis or cellular death or repair, without reference to particular tissue, organs, or systems
Special pathology
Deals with specific features of disease in relation to particular tissue, organs or systems
Autopsy
(Necropsy/Necroscopy)
an after death examination of the body organs and tissues to determine the cause of death or pathological conditions
What is the importance of an autopsy?
- To confirm, amplify, reject or alter clinical diagnosis
- Advance medical knowledge and research
- assist in medicolegal cases to determine identification of deceased, cause and manner of death
- alleviate concerns of family members
Coroner
A public officer of the special court, medical officer or an officer of the law responsible for identification of a dead body and investigating deaths, particularly those happening under unusual circumstances
American ______ are almost always officials of the state government or of the local county government
Coroners
Coroners are usually NOT a ______ _______.
Medical Doctor
Medical examiner
A physician officially authorized by the government. Specialist in pathology or forensic medicine, ascertains causes of death, especially those not occurring under natural circumstances.
In some cases a medical examiner must be both a ____ & ____
Doctor and a lawyer
To examine employees of a particular firm or applicants for life insurance is also the job of a _______ _______.
Medical examiner
Nature
Essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
Disease
State of functional disequilibrium, change in function or structure (@ organ or system level) that is considered to be abnormal
What results from infection, genetic defect, environmental factors or stress?
Disease
Diseases are characterized by ____ & ____.
signs & symptoms
Acute
Rapid onset and short duration
Chronic
Slow onset and long duration
What is Virchow’s concept of disease?
Cell level–> tissue–> organs–> whole body
Severity depends on what?
Which organs are diseased and the interdependence of other organs to the disease organ.
Vital organs include…
The heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract
Pathogenesis
The manner in which a disease develops (natural history and development)
Lesion
Any structural changes in tissues produced by disease
Diagnosis
Identifying the nature and cause of the disease or injury through evaluation of patient history, examination, and laboratory data
Prognosis
Prediction of the outcome of a disease
Symptoms
Subjective disturbances caused by disease that are felt or experienced by patient but not directly measurable (pain, headache)
Signs
Objective disturbances produced by disease, observed by physician, nurse, or person attending to patient (pulse, fever)
Syndrome
Set of clinical signs, symptoms, laboratory findings and physiological disturbances indicating the presence of a disease or inherited abnormality.
Cushing syndrome
Results from excess steroids (due to medical treatment) adrenal hyperplasia, or pituitary tumor.
Fulminating
Having rapid and severe onset, usually fatal
Exacerbation
increase in severity of a disease
Remission
(abatement) temporary cessation of symptoms of a disease.
Recurrence
(relapse) reappearance of symptoms after a period of remission
Complication
unfavorable condition arising during the course of disease (infection of testes following mumps)
Sequel
aftermath of a particular disease ( damage to heart after rheumatic fever)
Deficiency
disease due to lack of dietary or metabolic substance
Infection
caused by microorganism, and may be transmitted from person to person or animal to person
Communicable
a disease that maybe transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
Allergies
hypersensitivity to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction.
Febrile
term associated with fever
Occupational
a disease with an abnormally high rate of occurrence in members of the workforce
Intoxication
state of being poisoned by a drug or toxic substance; chemical poisoning
Infestation
harboring of animal parasites, especially macroscopic forms such as ticks or misquitoes.
Functional
a condition or disease in which there is impairment in function
Organic (structural)
A condition or disease in which there is a change in structure of anatomy.
Endemic
disease that occurs continuously in particular population, has low mortality (measles).
Epidemic
appearance of infectious disease or condition that attacks many people at the same time and same geographical area.
Pandemic
epidemic, widespread, worldwide event.
Sporadic
disease that occurs occasionally in a random or isolated manner.
Prevalence
number of cases of a disease occurring at a given time in a specific population
______ allows to determine the impact, significance, & likelihood of a disease for a given population; used to direct healthcare resources and research.
prevelance
Mortality
number of deaths attributed to a disease in a given population over a given time.
Morbidity
measure of disability and extent of illness caused by a disease in a given population over a given time.
predisposing factors
conditions that make one or more susceptible to disease
example of age being a predisposing factor of disease
newborns and elderly having low immunity
example of race being a predisposing factor of disease
hereditary and geographical factors (sickle cell anemia)
example of genetics being a predisposing factor of disease
coronary heart disease, breast & cervical cancers
example of gender being a predisposing factor of disease
- men having a higher disposition for lung cancer, gout & parkinsons,
- females having a higher disposition for osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
example of occupation being a predisposing factor of disease
miners having a higher disposition to lung diseases
example of environment being a predisposing factor of disease
air & water pollution, overcrowded areas.
example of emotions being a predisposing factor of disease
personality types might suppress immunity.
example of nutritional status being a predisposing factor of disease
malnutrition (goiter) & obesity (diabetes)
other examples of predisposing factors of disease
alcoholism, smoking, fatigue
Exogenous Etiology of Disease
- physical agents (mechanical, thermal, radiation)
- Chemical agents (pollutants)
- Biological agents (infectious agents)
Endogenous Etiology of Disease
- Physiological
- Immunological
- Genetic
- Deficiency of essential substances (malnutrition)
Exciting Causes of disease
actual causes; immediately produce disease, or excite the action of predisposing causes
Basic Cause of Death
entity responsible for death at the time of terminal event or prior to and leading to the terminal event.
A
Prefix that means without or not
Abatement
decrease in, such as in pain
Abrasion
an excoriation, a circumscribed removal of the epidermis of skin or mucous membrane
Abcess
localized accumulation of pus
Acapnia
marked decrease in blood carbon dioxide content
Acidosis
condition in which there is an excessive amount of acid in the blood
Acquired
presents itself after birth
Acquired disease
A disease which is not congenital, but has developed since birth.
Acro
Prefix that means extremity
Acromegally
hyper-function of pituitary gland after ossification has been completed
adeno
prefix that means gland
adenoma
a neoplasm formed by glandular epithelium
Algia
suffix meaning pain
alkalosis
condition in which there is an excessive amount of alkali in the blood.
Alzheimer’s Disease
pre-senile dementia occurring usually in persons over 60 years of age; thought to be associated with neurofibril degeneration.
Amelia
congenital absence of one or more limbs
An
prefix meaning without
anasarca
generalized massive edema in subcutaneous tissue
anemia
a decrease in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin or both
Aneurysm
a localized dilation of a blood vessel
angio
suffix meaning vessel
angioma
a swelling or tumor due to dilation of the blood vessels or lymphatics
anoxia
deficient blood oxygen supplies to tissues
