Pathology Terms

Front 1

define disease

Back 1

any abnormal disturbance of function or structure of the human body

Front 2

define pathology

Back 2

the study of disease

Front 3

define pathogenesis

Back 3

after injury, cellular changes leading to manifestation (observable changes)

Front 4

define symptom

Back 4

subjective identification of manifestation

Front 5

define sign

Back 5

objective manifestation, detected by exam, can be measured

Front 6

define syndrome

Back 6

group of characteristic signs and symptoms of specific disturbance

Front 7

define etiology

Back 7

science that deals with the causes of origin of disease, the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder

Front 8

define nosocomial

Back 8

acquired from environment
(most common being caused by indwelling urinary catheters)

Front 9

define iatrogenic

Back 9

adverse response to medical treatment (ex. ruptured vessel during angioplasty)

Front 10

define idiopathic

Back 10

no causative factor identified

Front 11

define acute

Back 11

quick onset of disease with short recovery time

Front 12

define sequelae

Back 12

lasting effects from acute illness

Front 13

define chronic

Back 13

manifest slowly and lasts a long time

Front 14

define diagnosis

Back 14

names the disease

Front 15

define prognosis

Back 15

predicts course and outcome of disease

Front 16

define lytic

Back 16

destructive disease

Front 17

define subtractive

Back 17

(a.k.a. lytic or destructive) disease processes that decrease normal tissue density

Front 18

define epidemiology

Back 18

the branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations

Front 19

define prevalence

Back 19

number of cases found in a given population

Front 20

define incidence

Back 20

number of new cases found over time

Front 21

define endemic

Back 21

high prevalence over a long duration (chronic)

Front 22

define epidemic

Back 22

high incidence in a short period of time (outbreak)

Front 23

define congenital

Back 23

present at birth, including in utero, resulting from genetic or environmental factors

Front 24

define hereditary

Back 24

genetically transmitted

Front 25

define metabolic

Back 25

disturbance of normal physiologic function

Front 26

define neoplasm

Back 26

abnormal growth

Front 27

define benign

Back 27

localized, non-invasive

Front 28

define malignant

Back 28

invasive

Front 29

define hematogenous

Back 29

through the blood

Front 30

define carcinoma

Back 30

cancer from the epithelial tissue

Front 31

define sarcoma

Back 31

cancer from connective tissue

Front 32

define remission

Back 32

cancer-free for up to 5 years

Front 33

define curative

Back 33

considered "cured", cancer-free for 5 years or more

Front 34

define palliative

Back 34

designed to relieve pain only

Front 35

define atrophy

Back 35

decrease of cell size

Front 36

define hypertrophy

Back 36

generalized increase in cell size

Front 37

define hyperplasia

Back 37

increase in number of cells (excessive proliferation)

Front 38

define metaplasia

Back 38

conversion of one cell type into another cell type not normal for that tissue

Front 39

define dysplasia

Back 39

abnormal cell growth

Front 40

define periosteum

Back 40

fibrous membrane that covers the outer surface of bone, contains blood vessels

Front 41

define diaphysis

Back 41

shaft of bone

Front 42

define epiphyses

Back 42

ends of bone

Front 43

define metaphysis

Back 43

where diaphysis and epiphyses meet (growth zone/plate)

Front 44

define endosteum

Back 44

lines inner canal of bone

Front 45

define medullary cavity (marrow)

Back 45

canal within the diaphysis

Front 46

define diploe

Back 46

cancellous bone between cortical plates in skull

Front 47

define fibrous joints

Back 47

synarthroidal, immovable (ex. skull sutures)

Front 48

define synarthroidal joints

Back 48

immovable

Front 49

define cartilaginous joints

Back 49

amphiarthrodial, semi-moveable (ex. vertebrae)

Front 50

define amphiarthroidal joints

Back 50

semi-moveable

Front 51

Define trabeculae.

Back 51

marrow filled web inside bone

Front 52

Define ossification.

Back 52

bone formation

Front 53

Define osteoclasts.

Back 53

Osteoclasts enlarge medullary cavity by removing bone
(Important in serum calcium and phosphorus equilibrium)

Front 54

Define osteoblasts.

Back 54

Osteoblasts form new bone around outer surface
(Located in periosteum)

Front 55

Define Syndactyly.

Back 55

webbed digits

Front 56

Define Polydactyly.

Back 56

additional digits

Front 57

Define talipes.

Back 57

a.k.a. clubfoot; foot turned inward: prevents weightbearing, usually involving ligament malformations. Corrected with splints or surgery.

Front 58

Define aspiration pneumonia.

Back 58

(chemical) caused by acid/vomit aspirated into the lower respiratory tract

Front 59

Define bronchial carcinoid.

Back 59

(adenoma) usually benign but can invade local tissues and metastasize to lymph nodes. Radiographically shows opacity, bronchial narrowing or obstruction, w/ possible collapse of affected segment of lung

Front 60

Define bronchiogenic carcinoma.

Back 60

most common fatal primary malignancy. occurs between ages of 45-70 especially smokers. Will present airway obstruction by a unilateral hilar mass or coin lesion.