Pathophysiology -- Chapter 1

The study of functional or physiologic changes in the body that result from disease processes.

Cause or origin of a disease or abnormality. Ex: inherited or genetic disorders, viruses, bacteria, burns, etc.

The tendencies that promote development of a disease in an individual; indicates a high risk for the disease but not certain development. Ex: age, gender, inherited factors, occupational exposure, or a certian dietary component, like insufficient calcium intake predisposes to osteoporosis.

Is a condition that triggers an acute episode, such as a seizure in an individual with a seizure disorder. Ex: an angina attack is precipitated by shoveling snow on a very cold day, unlike an angina attack that's predisposed because of a high-cholesterol diet.

The time between the initial exposure to the infectious agent and the appearance of the first signs of infection.

Comprises the time in the early development of a disease when one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific. Ex: fatigue, headache...a sense of feeling threatened often developes.

A short-term illness that developes very quickly with marked signs such as high fever.

The period of recovery and return to the normal healthy state; it may last for several days or months.

Milder condition developing gradually, such as rhematoid arthritis, but it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue damage. Often marked by intermittent acute episodes.

Residual effects, potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition.

Increased size of an organ or muscle due to increased size of individual cells.

An abnormal increase in the number of cells resulting in an increased tissue mass.

Disorganized cells which vary in size and shape with large nuclei.

Undifferentiated primitive cells of variable size and shape, associated with cancer.

Necrotic tissue infected by bacteria.