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221 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
abscess
A collection of inflammatory cells.
actinic keratosis (AK)
A dysplastic change of the skin in response to chronic sun damage, which may progress to malignancy.
adaptive changes
Changes that render an organism better able to cope with its environment.
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
The molecule that powers cellular processes.
agenesis
The complete absence of the precursor to an organ or structure.
alpha-fetoprotein
A tumor marker present in primitive or germ-cell tumors.
anencephaly
The congenital absence of the cranial vaults, with agenesis or aplasia of the cerebral hemispheres.
aneuploidy
A condition characterized by karyotypes that are not an exact multiple of the haploid number.
angiogenesis
Growth of new blood vessels.
anoxia
Lack of oxygen.
antioxidants
Substances, such as vitamins C and E, that normally prevent lipid peroxidation within cells.
aplasia
The failure of an organ to develop.
apoptosis
The controlled death of individual cells during normal growth and development.
atresia
The incomplete formation of a lumen, or hollow structure, such as the intestine.
atrophy
A decrease in the size and function of a cell or tissue.
autosomal dominant
Term used to describe a single-gene defect that is expressed when only one copy of the mutated gene is present.
Autosomal recessive
Term used to describe a single-gene defect that is expressed only when both copies of a critical gene are abnormal.
benign
Term describing a tumor that does not invade beyond the tissue borders or spread (metastasize) to distant sites.
Biopsy
A procedure used to obtain a sample of tumor-involved tissue for microscopic examination and diagnosis.
Blastula
A microscopic, multicellular spherical structure that arises from the cellular division of a zygote.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
A tumor marker common in colon cancer.
Caseous necrosis
A condition in which dead cells persist as coarse, amorphous debris usually surrounded by chronic inflammatory cells (often lymphocytes).
Chemotherapy
The administration of a chemical that interferes with the growth of rapidly proliferating tissues (such as cancers), often by interfering with DNA replication or cell division.
Coagulative necrosis
The prototypical type of cell necrosis, characterized by pyknosis, loss of integrity of the plasma and nuclear membranes, cellular swelling, and dispersion and/or extrusion of nuclear material.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
An autosomal recessive disease causing very thick mucus that obstructs the airways, intestines, and pancreatic and biliary ducts.
decubitus ulcer
A pressure sore or bedsore that occurs in the skin of debilitated, elderly, or paralyzed individuals who are unable to change position in bed.
Diploid
A term referring to the full number of chromosomes found in an organism's body cells.
Division failures
Conditions caused by lack of proper apoptosis of embryonic structures.
Down Syndrome
A condition caused by trisomy 21 that is the most common cause of mental retardation.
Dysplasia
An alteration in the size, shape, and organization of the cellular and subcellular components of a tissue.
Dysraphic anomaly
The failure of adjacent structures to fuse properly.
Dystrophin
An essential protein in muscle cells that is required for proper contraction and relaxation of muscle fibers.
Ectopia
The presence of an organ or tissue outside its normal anatomic site.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
An autosomal dominant disorder involved any of several mutations in collegen, leading to hyperelastic skin, hypermobile joints, and a tendency for bleeding disorders.
fetal alcohol syndrome
A complex of abnormalities caused by consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
Gangliosides
Natural lipids within cells that are normally broken down by lysosomal enzymes.
Glycogen storage diseases
Diseases somewhat analogous to lysosomal storage diseases, in which cells are unable to produce any of the series of enzymes required for degradation of glycogen.
Grade
A classification of a malignancy determined by studying a biopsy specimen of the tumor microscopically and examining the regularity of the cells and number of actively proliferating cells.
Granuloma
The entire cheese-like lesion associated with caseous necrosis.
haploid
A term referring to half of the full number of chromosomes found in an organism's body cells; germs cells are haploid such that the full complement of chromosomes is restored upon fertilization.
Hemochromatosis
A disease of severe iron overload caused by a genetic abnormality, leading to increased iron absorption and intracellular iron accumulation throughout the body.
Hemophilia A
An X-linked disorder of blood clotting that results in copious bleeding with monor wounds and spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, and internal organs.
Hemosiderin
A partially denatured form of ferritin that normally accumulates in the cytoplasm of cells throughout the body.
Homeostasis
The ability to respond and adapt to the external environment.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
A virus that causes chronic infection of the cervix and can lead to squamous metaplasia.
Hydropic swelling
An increased volume of cytoplasm and distension of subcellular organelles caused by the impairment of cellular volume regulation.
Hyperplasia
An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.
Hypertrophy
An increase in the size of a cell, accompanied by enhanced functional capacity.
Hypoplasia
A condition in which differentiation of tissue has occured but final development is incomplete, leaving a structure that is reduced in size and function.
Hypoxia
Inadequate oxygenation.
Immunotherapy
The administration of agents that enhance a patient's own immune response against neoplastic growth.
Infarction
Tissue death.
Intracellular storage
A normal process wherein nutrients are set aside within cells for later use.
Ionizing radiation
Type of radiation that causes cellular injury by inducing free radicals and by directly damaging DNA and impairing replication in rapidly dividing cells.
Ischemia
Tissue damage from interrupted blood flow.
Karyolysis
The extrusion of nuclear material from a cell.
Karyorrhexis
The dispersal of nuclear material through the cytoplasm of a cell.
Karyotype
A complement of chromosomes.
Lipid peroxidation
A chain reaction that destroys the phospholipids of cellular mambranes and results in membrane disintegration.
Lipofuscin
An age-related pigment found in many organs (particularly nerve cells and the liver) that is derived from cell membrane turnover.
Liquefactive necrosis
Rapid cell death and dissolution of tissue into liquid caused by the digestive enzymes of acute inflammatory cells (usually neutrophils).
Lysosomal storage diseases
Diseases that result in the intracellular accumulation of waste products due to a genetic enzyme deficiency that prevents the lysosomes within a cell from breaking down various substances.
malignant
Term describing a tumor that has the potential for invasion and metastasis.
Marfan syndrome
An autosomal dominant disease caused by a mutation in the gene for fibrillin, which results in altered and weakened connective tissue in may organs and leads to elongated, weak bones and weakened blood vessels with a tendency for aortic aneurysm.
McArdle's disease
A disease caused by a deficiency in muscle phosphorylase, leading to an accumulation of glycogen in skeletal muscles; characterized by muscle cramping during exercise, with delayed onset of symptoms until young adulthood.
Melanin
A pigment found mainly in the epidermis that is responsible for differences in skin color among persons of various ancestry.
Meningocele
A severe type of neural tube defect in which the meningeal lining of the spinal cord protrudes through a bony defect.
Metaplasia
The conversion of one differentiated cell type to another.
Metastasis
The transfer of malignant cells to distant, unconnected sites.
Mitotic figures
Prominent cell division.
Monosomy
The absence of one chromosome from a homologous pair.
Morphogenesis
The developmental process that occurs within the first days after fertilization, as the conceptus travels through the oviduct en route to the uterus.
Morula
A microscopic, multicellular spherical structure that arises after blastula formation and in which cell types begin to differentiate.
Muscular dystrophy
An X-linked disease involving muscle degeneration that is caused by mutations in the gene for dystrophin.
Myelomeningocele
A severe type of neural tube defect in which the spinal cord and its membranes protrude through the bony defect.
necrosis
Cell death resulting from injury, regardless of the nature of the insult.
Neoplasia
Cancer, or the unregulated growing of cells.
Neural tube defects
Conditions caused by failure of the primitive neural tube to close during development.
Nondisjunction
The failure of the paired chromosomes of a gamete to seperate during cell division.
Oncogene
A viral sequence associated with neoplasia.
Oncogenesis
Cancer formation.
Organogenesis
Organ formation.
P53 gene
A gene that normally acts to delay cell division, allowing time for DNA surveillance and repair.
Paraneoplastic syndromes
Effects of cancer that are not caused locally or by metastasis.
Pellagra
A disease caused by niacin deficiency and characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.
Polyploidy
A condition characterized by more than twice the haploid number of chromosomes.
Pompe's disease
A disease in which alpha-glucosidase in genetically absent and glycogen thus accumulates throughtout the body, often resulting in death in infancy from heart failure.
Proto-oncogene
A sequence in a normal cell that encodes for proteins that regulate cell growth and differentiation; this sequence may become activated or may be converted to a tumor-forming oncogene, often through mutation.
Pyknosis
General shrinkage of a cell's nucleus with clumping of chromatin.
radiation therapy
A cancer therapy using targeted high-energy radiation that interferes with DNA replication in cancer cells but also damages surrounding normal tissue.
Reciprocal translocation
The exchange of chromosome fragments between two different chromosomes.
Reperfusion
Restoration of blood flow.
Retinoblastoma (Rb) gene
A tumor suppressor gene that is associated with a hereditary eye tumor when a functional copy is absent.
Scurvy
A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency and characterized by the formation of weak collagen, which leads to hemorrhage into the skin, gums, bones, and joints.
Senescence
Age-related atrophy that occurs in most organisms and affects most organ systems.
Sickle-cell anemia
An autosomal recessive disease that affects hemoglobin formation and causes misshapen red blood cells; this leads to occlusion of small blood vessels, which precipitates painful crises and damage to organs.
Spina bifida
A neural tube defect that involves incomplete closure of a localized part of the spinal column.
Stage
A classification of a malignancy determined clinically by the degree of spread; this classification relates to the prognosis for an individual patient.
Superoxide dismutase
An enzyme that normally prevents lipid peroxidation within cells.
Tay-Sachs disease
A lysosomal storage disease in which gangliosides accumulate within cells, resulting in cellular dysfunction, visual and mental deterioration, and usually death in childhood.
Teratogen
A chemical or biological agent that causes developmental abnormalities.
Thalassemias
Group of autosomal recessive blood diseases resulting from mutation of either the alpha- or beta-globin chains of the normal hemoglobin tetramer; these diseases are characterized by reduced or absent synthesis of the complete hemoglobin molecule.
Thrombosis
Clots in small blood vessels.
Thrombus
A blood clot.
TNM staging system
A method for classifying the stage of a cancer by the degree of spread; with this system, T stands for tumor size, N indicates the number and location of lymph nodes involved, and M describes the presence or absence of metastasis.
TORCH infections
An acronym that refers to infections caused by toxoplasma, other agents, rubells, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus; when these infections occur during gestation, they can result in a spectrum of clinical symptoms.
Trisomy
The presence of an extra copy of a single chromosome.
Tumor markers
Proteins that provide an indication of the presence, risk, or behavior of a malignancy.
Tumor suppressor genes
Genes that are present in all cells and that encode proteins that protect against cancer formation.
Turner syndrome
A condition caused by the absence of a second sex chromosome; affected individuals are female but do not develop sexually, tend to be short of stature, and have characteristic abnormalities, including a short, webbed neck, low posterior hairline, wide-spaced nipples, and poorly developed overies.
Von Gierke disease
A disease caused by deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase, leading to an inability to convert glycogen to glucose; this produces enlargement of the liver and low blood glucose levels.
X-linked
Term used to describe a single-gene defect related to a gene that is located on the X chromosome.
zygote
A cell that forms from a fertilized ovum and subsequently undergoes a series of cellular divisions to give rise to a blastula and then a morula.
abrasion
A scrape on the skin.
acne
An inflammatory disease of the oil glands of the skin that manifests as blackheads, whiteheads, papulopustules, and occasionally, deep tender nodules on the face and upper trunk.
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
A fatal condition of acquired immune dysfunction caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
A form of leukemia involving abnormal accumulation of lymphoblasts (lymphocyte precursors); most cases involve B lymphocytes.
acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
A form of leukemia that results in the accumulation of myeloblasts in the bone marrow; precursors of platelets (megakaryocytes) or red cells (erythroblasts) may also be involved.
adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency
An autosomal recessive disease in which a critical enzyme for nucleotide biosynthesis is nonfunctional, leading to immune dysfunction.
anaphylaxis
The most severe form of type I hypersensitivity, in which a massive release of histamine and mediators leads to airway constriction and loss of blood pressure that may be life threatening.
Anemia
A reduction of the total circulating red blood cell mass.
Antibody
A specific protein produced by a B lymphocyte that produces humoral immunity by binding to the antigen of an invading organism
Aplastic anemia
A type of anemia that results from bone marrow failure.
Atopic dermatitis
A primary skin disorder with prominent skin inflammation.
Azidothymidine (AZT)
A reverse transcriptase inhibitor that was the first antiretroviral agent used in the treatment if HIV infection.
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
The most common type of cancer, characterized by raised, slow-growing, flesh-colored spots on the sun-exposed skin of older persons; this type of cancer has a very low potential for deep invasion and metastatic spread.
Bruton disease
A severe B cell deficiency also known as congenital X-linked infantile hypogammaglobulinemia; this disease affects male infants in the early months of life, making them susceptible to recurrent infections, which may become life threatening.
Candida
A type of fungus with a yeast-like morphology; commonly a normal resident of skin but may cause infection when a person's immune system is compromised.
cell-mediated immunity
An inflammatory response that is a form of natural immunity and involves the action of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and natural killer cells.
cellulitis
An infection of superficial tissues under the skin.
Chediak-Higashi syndrome
A disorder characterized by defective lysosomal granules (which contain enzymes needed to destroy invading organisms), as well as poor chemotaxis.
chemotaxis
Migration of white blood cells.
chronic granulomatous disease
A disease in which an enzyme is absent from phagocytic cells, resulting in the inability to produce toxic oxygen radicals for the killing of microorganisms.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
A form of leukemia in which abnormal, nonfunctional B lymphocytes released from the bone marrow.
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
A form of leukemia that typically begins insidiously and strikes in middle age; involves high numbers of neoplastic immature lymphoblasts in the bloodstream.
cluster determinant
A marker present on the surface of a T cell.
coagulation cascade
A series of plasma proteins activated during bleeding and culminating in the generation of thrombin.
collagen
One of the connective tissues, along with elastin, that gives skin strength and flexibility.
contact dermatitis
A condition in which a pruritic rash is present at the site of contact with an offending allergen.
contusion
A bruise to the skin.
CREST syndrome
A limited form of scleroderma; the term is an acronym for calcinosis (calcium deposition), Raynaud's phenomenon (color change to the fingertips due to vascular abnormalities), esophageal dysfunction (usually difficulty swallowing), sclerodactyly (tightening of the skin on the fingers), and telangiectasia (formation of small blood vessels in the skin).
cutaneous lupus
a skin condition that may occur by itself or in the context of generalized lupus; findings include an erythematous butterfly shaped rash across the central face and other skin lesions that look like psoriasis or pink scars.
dehiscence
The separation of a wound during the healing process.
dermatophyte
A fungal organism that is able to infect only the most superficial layer of the epidermis.
DiGeorge syndrome
A T cell deficiency disease caused by defective embryological development of the thymus and para thyroid glands; resulting in heart defects, abnormal facial structure, severely low calcium levels, and poor immune function.
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
A serious medical condition involving general formation of a clot within the circulatory system.
ecthyma (ek-thi-ma)
A skin infection caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas.
eczema
Another name for atopic dermatitis.
edema
Swelling
effusion
A collection of fluid in a body cavity, such as the lining of a lung.
elastin
One of the connective tissues, along with collagen, that gives skin strength and flexibility.
Epinephrine
A neurotransmitter that relaxes the airways.
Exanthem (eks-an-them)
An eruption on the skin in response to a systemwide viral infection.
Exudate
A cell-rich type of edema fluid with high protein content.
Fibronectin
A substance that serves as a scaffold for the extracellular matrix, or the network of microfilaments and proteins that, that together with collagen and elastin, comprise connective tissue.
Folliculitis
An inflammatory condition characterized by red pimples and pustules at a hair follicle.
Furuncle
A boil, or inflamed skin caused by Staphylococcal entry through a hair follicle opening.
graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction
A reaction that occurs when lymphocytes within an organ or within bone marrow are transplanted into an immune-suppressed recipient, prompting an immunologic attack.
granulation tissue
The first type of tissue to appear during wound healing; contains new capillaries, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells.
Graves's Disease
A disease in which the thyroid gland is overstimulated by autoantibodies, resulting in hyperthyroidism.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
A disease that manifests as hypothyroidism with symptoms of cold intolerance, lethargy, fatigue, constipation, swelling (myxedema), weakness, hoarseness, and depression.
hematoma
A collection of blood within a tissue.
hemolytic anemia
A type of anemia that results from increased destruction of red blood cells.
hemophilia
A group of genetic disorders that affect the clotting factors, resulting in a bleeding tendency; these disorders are generally linked and usually affect the male offspring
hemostasis
Stoppage of bleeding.
heparin
A naturally occurring protein that inhibits clotting by interaction with antithrombin III.
hereditary elliptocytosis (e-lip"to-si-to'sis)
A condition caused by a variety of membrane protein mutations, leading to ellipically shaped red blood cells.
hereditary spherocytosis (sfe"reo-si-to-'sis)
A condition that results from a deficiency in the protein spectrin, leading to spherically shaped red blood cells.
Herpes zoster
A reactivation of the varicella virus usually seen in immunosuppressed or elderly persons.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
A type of lymphoma distinguished by the presence of the Reed-Steinberg cell, or a B-lymphoid cell with a characteristic double-nucleated appearance.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
A retrovirus that attacks CD4 helper T lymphocytes, leading to the depletion of this cell type and resultant immune dysfunction.
Humoral immunity
Antibody-mediated immunity, which depends upon prior exposure to a particular antigen.
Hyperemia (hi"per-e'me-a)
Redness from increased blod flow.
hypersensitivity
An allergy to a certain substance.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
An autoimmune process in which autoantibodies to platelets may occur after a viral illness or in association with autoimmune disease or leukemia.
Immunoglobulin (Ig)
Another name for an antibody.
Impetigo (im-pe-ti'go)
A honey-crusted rash on the face that is common in infants.
Inflammation
A reaction of the local circulatory system involving movement of fluid and blood cells out of the bloodstream into surrounding tissues.
Job's syndrome
Also called lazy leukocyte syndrome, a condition characterized by impaired chemotaxis such that inflammatory cells do not properly migrate to sites of infection.
Keloid
A scar that grows beyond the extend of an original wound.
Laceration
A cut or puncture of the skin.
Leprosy
A rare, chronic skin infection caused by a tuberculosis-like bacterium.
Leukemia
A group of malignant diseases involving unregulated production of white blood cells by the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs.
Leukocyte
A white blood cell.
Leukocytosis
An increased white blood cells count.
leukopenia
A decrease in the circulating white blood cell count.
Lyme disease
A bull's-eye rash occurring after a bite by an infected tick, with risk of multisystem illness.
Lymphoma
A malignant proliferation, of white blood cells.
Macrophage
A type of white blood cell that is specially equipped to engulf and digest invading microbes.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
A complex found on chromosome 6 that encodes class I and class II molecules, or small cell-surface proteins that interact with T lymphocytes
Malignant melanoma (MM)
An aggressive type of skin cancer associated with a significant risk of mortality; characterized by dark colored spots that may be flat or raised, grow rapidly, and occur at any age.
Megakaryocyte
A cell from within the bone marrow that produces platelets.
Multiple myeloma
A cancer of plasma cells (terminally differentiated B cells that produce antibodies).
Myofibroblast
A type of cell that helps achieve contraction in wound size and shares properties with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells.
Onychomycosis (on"i-ko-mi-ko'sis)
Nail infection caused by a fungus.
Opsonization (op"so-ni-za'shun)
The recognition and coating of invading cells by antibodies.
polycythemia (pol"e-si-the'me'a)
The presence of an increased red blood cell mass; also known as erythrocytosis.
Polycythemia (pol"e-si-the'me'a) Vera
A neoplastic disease in which there is unregulated production of red blood cells by the bone marrow; this condition is more common in the elderly.
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs)
A subtype of leukocyte associated with acute inflammation.
Pruritus
Itching
Psoriasis
A chronic skin disease consisting of large , scaly,violaceous erythematous (red from increased blood flow) plaques.
Purulent
A term describing infected exudates.
Pyrogen
A fever-causing cytokine released from a microorganism or an infected or injured cell.
retinoid
A vitamin A analog; these substances are often used in the treatment of acne.
Reverse transcriptase
An enzyme that converts viral RNA to DNA.
Rosacea
An inflammatory, acne-like condition that mainly affects middle-aged adults.
Scleroderma
A disease in which the connective tissue is the target of the immune response; this causes an increase in collagen fibers in the dermis and thus leads to heavily thickened skin.
Selective IgA deficiency
A B cell disorder that involves impairment in the production of IgA, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and allergies.
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
A rare disease characterized by an absence of T cells and severely low antibody levels.
Sjögren's syndrome
An autoimmune disease characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth, with or without other symptoms of autoimmune disease.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
A type of cancer characterized by raised, slow-growing, flesh-colored spots on the sun-exposed skin of older persons, similar to basal cell carcinoma but rarer and with great risk of metastasis.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
A multisystem autoimmune disease of connective tissues and blood vessels, characterized by fever, arthritis, and problems with the heart, kidneys, lungs, and skin.
thrombocytopenia
A drop in platelet count below 150,000 .
transudate
Edema fluid with low protein content.
tumor necrosis factor
An inflammatory cytokine known to be increased in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease,and psoriasis.
urticaria
Redness with transient wheals, or hives.
Varicella virus
Chicken pox, or a common, self-limited childhood virus characterized by widespread blisters on a red base.
Virchow's triad
Factors predisposing to thrombosis for both the arterial and venous systems; includes alterations in blood flow, increased coagulability, and endothelial damage.
von Willebrand's disease
A type of hemophilia caused by deficiency of von Willebrand's factor, which stabilizes factor VIII.
warfarin
A drug that blocks the synthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome
A rare X-linked disease presenting in infancy and characterized by the triad of recurrent bacterial infections, low platelet count leading to bleeding, and atopic dermatitis.