Pathophysiology
the study of the functional changes that occur in the body as a result of an injury, disorder, or disease.
pathology
study of changes in cells and tissues as a result of injury or disease
physiology
the mechanisms of human body functioning
Disease
the functional impairment of cells, tissues, organs, or organ systems.
Syndromes
a specific condition with a recognizable, predictable pattern
pathogenesis
the origination and development at the point of disease onset.
Etiology
precise cause of disease
pathogen
disease causing microorganism
multifactorial
having more than one genetic and/or environmental causing events
idiopathic
no known etiology (no precise cause for the disease)
nosocomial
disease resulting from exposure to infection in the health care environment
iatrogenic
disease resulting from the inadvertent result of medical treatment
clinical manifestations
the presenting signs and symptoms of the disease
precipitating factors
triggers that promote the onset of clinical manifestations
local manifestations
found directly at the site of disease and confined to that area
systemic manifestations
present throughout the body
acute
begin abruptly and last a few days to a few months
chronic
last longer than 6 months
insidious
disease having a gradual onset
remissions
symptom-free periods of a chronic disease
exacerbations
flaring of symptoms in a person with a chronic disease
subacute
disease that falls between acute and chronic in duration and severity
asymptomatic
no noticeable symptoms even though diagnostic tests indicate presence of disease
diagnosis
label for the disease
nursing diagnosis
description of the human response to disease
prognosis
prediction of how the individual will proceed through the disease process
morbidity
a negative outcome with disease complications that impact the quality of life and possibly death
mortality
death
health
the perceived wholeness of the body, mind, and spirit
illness
a state that results in suffering. *(health and illness are on a dynamic continuum)
homeostasis
dynamic balance in the body marked by appropriate and effective response to stimuli
epidemiology
the study of disease in populations
incidence
the rate of occurrence of a disease (probability that a disease will occur in a certain population)
prevalence
(epidemiology) the ratio (for a given time period) of the number of occurrences of a disease or event to the number of units at risk in the population
endemic
when incidence and prevalence of a disease are predictable
epidemic
a dramatic increase in disease incidence in a population
pandemic
when and epidemic spreads across continents
primary prevention
prohibits a disease condition from occurring
secondary prevention
early detection and treatment of disease through screening
tertiary prevention
rehabilitation of a patient after detection of disease
concept
a general idea that can be applied to similar situations