What is . . . ? Flashcards
Acute inflammation
A condition involving tissue swelling (oedema) that occurs shortly (seconds,minutes,hours) after injury
Acute phase
Stage of infection where clinical manifestations peak
Adeno’
A prefix relating to glandular tissue
Aeitiology
The study of cause and distribution of a disease
Aerobic bacteria
Bacteria that can live and grow in the presence of oxygen
Allele
One of two forms of a gene at corresponding sites on a chromosome pair; the code for characteristics manifested in an individual
Amnesia
Loss of memory
Anaerobic bacteria
Bacteria that can live and grow in the absence of oxygen, some anaerobic bacteria are inhibited or killed by oxygen
Anencephaly
A congenital condition where most of the brain and skull are absent
Aneuploidy
A variation in the number of chromosomes
Aneurysm
An outpouching or abnormal dilated area in a blood vessel
Angiogenesis
Development of new blood vesselsl; the development of new capillaries in the tumour
Antibiotics
Agent used to manage infection causing bacteria
Antibody
Specific protein produced in humoral response to bind with antigen
Antigen
Foreign substance (antibody generator) that stimulates immune response
Antimicrobials
Any agent that inhibit growth or kill microbes
Antiseptics
Antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection
Aphasia
Loss of the ability to communicate, speak coherently, or understand speech
Ataxia
Impaired coordination, imbalance, staggering gait
Atrophy
Reduction in cell size
Aura
A sensation (visual or auditory) usually preceding a seizure or migraine headache
Autoimmune disease
Disorders resulting from an overactive immune system that fails to recognise ‘self’
Autosomes
Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
B lymphocytes
Specialised lymphocytes produced and mature in bone marrow, a precursor to plasma cells which produce antibodies or memory cells
Bacilli
Rod-shaped bacteria
Bacteremia
Presence of bacteria in the blood
Bacteria
Unicellular organisms that do not require living tissue to survive
Basophils
White blood cells which bind IgE and release histamines
Benign
A generic term referring to the inability of a tumour to metastasise
Binary fission
The primary method of reproduction of prokaryotic organisms
Biopsy
An examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease
Cachexia
Severe tissue wasting
Calor
Temperature
Cancer
A generic term describing any condition where abnormal cells divide and invade other tissue
Carcinogen
Any substance that has the potential to cause cancer
Carcinogenesis
The process of initiating cancer
Carcinoma
Malignancy of epithelial tissue
Carrier
An individual who has an inherited genetic mutation for a condition or disease, but does not express any symptoms
Cell-mediated immunity
A type of acquired immunity in which T cells play a dominant role
Cellular phase
The second stage of acute inflammation
Chemical mediators
Intracellular substances released into the tissue that induce inflammation
Chorea
Involuntary repeated jerky movements of face and limbs
Chronic inflammation
Acute inflammatory response that does not subside
Clinical manifestations
Demonstrable changes (S&S) caused by a disease
Clonic Movements
The rapid, alternating contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle
Cocci
Spherical shaped bacteria
Collagen
A protein commonly found in connective tissue and basic component found in scar tissue
Colonisation
The presence and multiplication of microorganism that is not yet causing disease
Coma
An unconscious state where the person cannot be aroused
Commensal microorganism
An organism participating in a symbiotic relationship with the host in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected
Comminuted fracture
Multiple fracture lines and fragments
Complete fracture
Bone is broken to form separate pieces
Concussion
A traumatic brain injury resulting in neurological effects, such as headache, confusion, memory loss or altered level of consciousness
Conjunctivitis
An inflammation of the conjunctiva commonly caused by infection
Contralateral
Opposite side of the body
Contusion
A tissue injury or bruise; bleeding into tissues
Cushing’s syndrome
A condition in which an abnormal increase in the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone from a tumour in the adrenal cortex or pituitary gland results in obesity and fatigue
Cytotoxic T cells
Destroy antigens, cancer cells, virus cells
Dalor
Pain
Debridement
Process of cleaning debris and dead cells from injury site
Deletion
A deletion is when a chromosome breaks and some genetic material is lost
Dementia
The progressive loss of intellectual function and memory causing personality change
Demyelination
The loss of the myelin sheath from a nerve surface, interfering with conduction
Diplo
Pair clusters (e.g. of bacteria)
Diploid
A cell with a full set of chromosomes (46)
Diplopia
Double vision
Disinfectant
Antimicrobial agents that are applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects
Dislocation
Separation of two bones at a joint
Disorientation
Mental confusion with inadequate or incorrect awareness of time, place, and person
Dominant trait
Trait that will have greater influence over a pair of alleles
Dysphagia
Painful or difficult swallowing (dysPHAGia)
Dysplasia
Maladaptive; variation in size and shape of cells in tissue (dysPLASia)
Encephalopathy
Impaired function of the brain
Endemic
Disease or infection regularly found among particular people or in a certain area
Endotoxin
Present in the cell wall of gram negative bacteria, liposaccaride
Eosinophils
White blood cells; participate in allergic responses and defense against parasites
Epidemic
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
Epidemiology
The study of the patterns of disease within populations
Epithelialisation
Epithelial layer growing into the surrounding under the clot to bridge the wound gap (light pink)
Exotoxin
Usually produced from gram positive bacteria, very toxic, protein substance
Exudate
Fluid that moves out of the blood vessels and accumulates in the tissue
Facultatively anaerobic bacteria
Bacteria able to derive energy from aerobic or anaerobic metabolism. Includes most intestinal pathogens
First intention healing
Healing process where wound is clean, free of foreign material and necrosis, wound can be held together with minimal gap
Flaccidity
Lack of tone in muscle; weakness and softness
Focal infection
Pathogen spreads to other neighbouring tissue
Fracture
A break in the rigid structure and continuity of bone
Fungi
Spore-bearing eukaryotic organism that becomes pathogenic if it breaches the hosts defences
Gene
A unit of DNA in a particular location on a specific chromosome
Genotype
The genetic makeup of a cell or individual
Gram negative
A group of bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation; characterised by their cell envelopes, which are composed of a thin peptidoglycan cell wall sandwiched between an inner cytoplasmic cell membrane and a bacterial outer membrane
Gram positive
Bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test; thick peptidoglycan layer cell wall
Gram staining
A method of staining used to differentiate bacterial species into two large groups (gram-positive and gram-negative). Gram staining differentiates bacteria by the chemical and physical properties of their cell walls by detecting peptidoglycan
Granulation
New connective tissue growing into the wound (bright red)
Haematoma
A blood clot formed following bleeding into a tissue or organ
Haploid
A cell with a half set of chromosomes (23)
Helminth
Parasitic intestinal worm
Helper T cells
Activate B and T cells; control or limit specific immune response
Hemiparesis
Weakness on one side of the body
Hemiplegia
Paralysis on one side of the body
Heterozygous
Having two different alleles at corresponding points on a chromosome pair
Histamine
Chemical mediator released from mast cell
Homozygous
Having two identical alleles at corresponding points on a chromosome pair
Humoral immunity
A type of acquired immunity in which antibodies play a dominant role
Hyperplasia
Increase in cell mitosis
Hyperreflexia
Excessive reflex responses
Hypertrophic scar
Scar tissue that remains within wound margins
Hypertrophy
Increase in cell size
Hypoxaemia
Insufficient oxygen in the blood
Hypoxia
A state of low oxygen
Ictal
Related to a seizure (postictal—following a seizure)
Immunity
The condition of being resistant to infection by a specific pathogen
Immunodeficiency
A condition resulting in an inability of the immune system to resist infection
Immunosuppressants
Agents used to modify an immune response
Incidence
The number of new cases of a disease diagnosed within a period
Incomplete fracture
Bone is only partially broken (no pieces)
Incubation phase
Refers to the time between pathogen entry and first appearance of clinical manifestations
Infarction
Infarction is tissue death (necrosis) caused by a local lack of oxygen, due to an obstruction of the tissue’s blood supply
Infection
The invasion of the body’s tissues by disease-causing agents
Ipsilateral
The same side of the body
Ischemia
Inadequate blood flow to an organ or tissue
Keloid scar
Excessive scar tissue that grows beyond the wound edges
Kyphosis
Abdormal curve of the back; hunchback
Leukotrienes
Chemical mediator that causes bronchoconstriction
Local infection
Pathogen enters body and remains confined to a location
Lordosis
Abnormal curve of the back; swayback
Lymphatic tissue/organs
Contain many lymphocytes; filter body fluids, remove foreign matter, immune response
Macrophages
Phagocytes; process and present antigens to lymphocytes for the immune response
Malignant
A tumour that is very invasive and tends to spread
Mast cells
Release chemical mediators such as histamines into connective tissue
Memory T cells
Remember antigen and quickly stimulate immune response
Metaplasia
Transition from one cell type to another
Metastsis
The spread of cancerous cells from a primary tumour to a distant region
Monocytes
White blood cells; migrate from the blood into tissues to become macrophages
Monosomy
A genetic condition where one homologous chromosome is short of its partner. The diploid number will be one less of a normal set.
Multi-factorial inheritance
Inheritance where multiple genes, and possibly the environment, interact to determine the particular genetic characteristics
Mutation
A change in the genetic makeup (DNA) of a cell, which will be inherited.
Natural Killer cells
Destroy foreign cells, virus infected cells and cancer cells
Neoplasm
The process of new, but abnormal cellular proliferation. This term can mean benign or malignant.
Neutrophils
White blood cells for phagocytosis; innate defense; active in inflammation
Nosocomial infection
An infection that develops during hospitalisation
Nuchal Rigidity
A stiff neck, often associated with meningitis or brain hemorrhage
Nystagmus
Involuntary rhythmic movements of the eyes in any direction
Obligate aerobic bacteria
Bacteria which require oxygen as a source of energy and therefore for growth.
-oma
A suffix which means benign tumour
Oncogene
A gene that can potentially induce cancer; gene controls cell growth and proliferation
Oncology
Study of malignant tumours
Open/compound fracture
A fracture that results in a breach of the skin
Opportunistic infection
An infection by a non-pathogenic organism that has become pathogenic due to an immunosuppressed state
Osteoarthritis
A degenerative joint disease
Osteomyelitis
Bone infection
Osteoporosis
Metabolic bone disease decreasing bone density
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the lower limbs
Paremchyma
Functional tissue cells
Paresis
Muscle weakness or mild paralysis
Paresthesia
Abnormal sensations
Pathogen
A microorganism that causes disease
Pathogeneisis
Development of a disease
Pathogenicity
Capacity of microbes to cause disease/infection
Pathophysiology
The study of the mechanisms by which disease and illness alter body function
Phagocytes
A generic term for any cell responsible for engulfing pathogens, waste material and foreign bodies
Pharmacology
The branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action
Phenotype
The characteristics manifested by a person depending on genetic and environmental factors
Pili
Tiny hairlike structures to assist in attachment of bacteria to tissue and share genetic material
Plasma cells
Develop from B lymphocytes to produce and secrete specific antibodies
Prevalence
The total number of cases of a disease at a particular time
Primary infection
Infection and clinical manifestations caused by single pathogen type
Prodromal phase
Time taken when an infected person will start to feel sick or fatigued
Prostaglandins
Chemical mediator derived from membrane phospholipids
Proto-oncogene
A normal gene which after mutating can contribute to cancer
Protozoa
Single-cell organism that reproduce asexually by cell division
Recessive trait
Trait that can be carried in a person’s genes without appearing in that person
Regeneration
The damaged tissue is replaced by identical tissue from nearby cells. Sometimes altering the tissues overall function. i.e fibrous tissue in the liver
Remission
The state of absence of disease activity in patients known to have a chronic illness that cannot be cured. It is commonly used to refer to absence of active cancer
Replacement
Extensive damage, the tissue is replaced by connective tissue (scar), tissue cells are incapable to regenerate. i.e Brain or heart infarction
Resolution
Minimal tissue damage, the cells recover within a short period i.e. mild sunburn
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune inflammatory joint disease
Rubor
Redness
Sarcoma
Malignancy of connective tissue
Scoliosis
Abnormal curve of the back; S or C shaped back
Second intention healing
Healing in where there is a large break in tissue, significant inflammation, a long healing period and lots of scar tissue
Secondary infection
Infection caused by pathogen other than that in primary infection, usually opportunistic
Seizure
Also known as convulsion. Sudden, involuntary movements with loss of awareness, caused by uncontrolled neuronal discharge in the brain
Convulsion
Also known as seizure. Sudden, involuntary movements with loss of awareness, caused by uncontrolled neuronal discharge in the brain
Sepsis
A life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection injures its own tissues and organs
Septicemia
Multiplication of pathogens in the blood
Sex chromosomes
The one pair of human chromosomes within the set of 23 pairs that determine the sex of the person
Simple fracture
A single break in the bone in which the bone ends maintain their alignment
Spiral
Wavy shaped bacteria
Sprain
Tear in ligament
Staph
Irregular clusters of bacteria
Strain
Tear in tendon/muscle
Strep
Chain clusters of bacteria
Sub-clinical infection
Does not cause any apparent clinical manifestations
Subluxation
Partial separation (dislocaition) of two bones at a joint
Syncope
Fainting, temporary loss of consciousness
Systemic infection
Infection spreads to many sites, typically through the circulation
T lymphocytes
Specialized lymphocytes produced by the bone marrow and matured in thymus, which is responsible for cell-mediated immunity
Teratoma
Tumours arising from precursor cells to the gamates
Thymus
Gland located in the mediastinum, site of maturation and proliferation of T lymphocytes
Toxemia
Presence of toxins in the blood
Trisomy
A condition characterised by three copies of one particular chromosome
Tumor
Swelling
Tumour
A generic term for any growth, swelling or neoplasm
Vascular phase
The first stage of acute inflammation
Viremia
Presence of viruses in the blood
Virulence
A generic term for the ability of a pathogen to cause disease
The degree of pathogenicity of a specific microbe
Virus
A microscopic pathogen, that uses the host to replicate. Can only reproduce inside a host cell
Bactericidal
An antibiotic agent which actually kills the bacteria.e.g. Penicillin
Bacteriostatic
An antibiotic agent which does not kill the bacteria but rather inhibit its growth and replication so the immune system can kill the bacteria. e.g. Tetracyclines
Narrow spectrum
Antibiotic agents that only target a specific type of bacteria
Broad spectrum
Antibiotic agents that kill a wide range of bacteria
