Week 2 Etiology Flashcards
the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition
etiology
describes the condition of the person who is experiencing a disease
illness
a condition or situation that may make a person more susceptible to a disease
predisposing factors
examples of predisposing factors (9)
-age
-genetics
-race
-sex
-occupation
-economic status
-nutritional status
-environment
-emotional circumstance
a condition or situation that a person is born with or may contract later in life; may be exogenous or endogenous
immediate cause
pathological considerations that are initiated from outside the body
exogenous
pathological considerations that are initiated from inside the body
endogenous
exogenous causes of disease (3 categories)
-physical
-chemical
-biological
sources of energy that may cause injury or disease (mechanical, thermal, or radiation)
physical agents
compounds with toxic effects (examples include acids, poisons, or drugs)
chemical agents
bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms (examples include West Nile Virus, Ebola, and smallpox)
biological agents
endogenous causes of disease (2 categories)
-physiological
-genetic
a disruption of normal body function or process; examples include hormonal changes, cancer
physiological agents
is genetically determined and is defined as the genetic characteristics transmitted from parent to offspring; the gene is the basic unit
heredity
types of heredity (3)
-monogenic
-chromosomal
-multifactorial
caused by a mutation in a single gene; examples include cystic fibrosis, diabetes insipidus, hemophilia
monogenic disorder
caused by the abnormalities in the number of chromosomes or by changes in the chromosomal structure; examples include Klinefelter syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, Down syndrome
chromosomal disorder
results from the interactions of many factors, hereditary and environmental; examples include gout, diabetes mellitus
multifactorial disease
3 ways the body protects itself against disease
-body structures and functions (tears, pH, intact skin, etc.) help to block the entry of germs into the body
-leukocytes will engulf invading organisms at the site of infection
-specific immune responses cause protective responses to foreign antigens
the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells (natural or acquired)
immunity
the genetic features specific to race, sex, and the individual’s ability to respond to defend against a specific agent
natural immunity
the body’s developed ability to defend against a specific agent
acquired immunity
characterized by circulating antibodies or immunoglobulins produced by plasma cells
humoral immunity
characterized by T lymphocytes
cell mediated immunity
abnormally low or high activity of the immune system
immune system malfunction
a hypersensitivity to a substance that
normally does not cause a reaction
allergy
immune responses of an organism against its own healthy cells and tissues
autoimmunity
failure of the immune system to protect the body adequately from infection, due to the absence or insufficiency or some process or substance
immunodeficiency
