Patho Chapters 1 & 2

A disease is a disturbance of structure or function. They fall into two basic categories:

• 1. Structural changes – organic disease
• 2. Morphologic abnormalities – functional disease

Subjective manifestations of a disease. These cannot be measured. An example would be pain.

Objective manifestations of a disease. These can be measured. An example is a fever.

A disease that causes the patient no discomfort.

A disease that is demonstrating signs and symptoms

The cause of a disease or illness

The manner by which a disease develops

These are diseases that are caused by:

• 1. Genetic abnormality
• 2. Intrauterine injury
• 3. Interaction of genetic and environmental factors

Causes by bacteria or other microbiological agents as the first step in the infection process. They can also be caused by allergic reactions and they can be autoimmune diseases.

Diseases involving the deterioration of body parts e.g. arthritis

A disease where an area of the body malfunctions e.g. diabetes

Cancers/Tumors that fall into 2 categories

• 1. Benign
• 2. Malignant

• 1. Congentital and Hereditary
• 2. Inflammatory
• 3. Degenerative
• 4. Metabolic
• 5. Neoplastic

• 1. History of current illness
• 2. Past medical history
• 3. Family History
• 4. Social History
• 5. Review of systems

• 1. Details of severity of symptoms
• 2. Time of onset
• 3. Character of the patient's symptoms and pain

• 1. details the patients general health
• 2. details previous injuries and illnesses

Health of patients immediate family

• 1. patents occupation
• 2. patients habits and sexual behavior
• 3. patients alcohol and tobacco consumption

Inquires about the symptoms one at a time to obtain information the patient might not have remembered or did not think was important.

• 1. Height
• 2. Weight
• 3. Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate
• 4. Body Temperature

• 1. Exam of ears, nose, mouth, eyes and glands in the neck
• 2. observations of heart sounds
• 3. observations of breathing sounds
• 4. examination of the abdomen
• 5. examination of the limbs

• 1. Clinical Lab Tests
• 2. Measurements of electrical activity
• 3. Radioisotope testing
• 4. Endoscopy
• 5. Ultrasound
• 6. X-rays
• 7. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• 8. Positron Emission Tomography
• 9. Cytologic and Histologic

• 1. esophagoscope: view the esophagus
• 2. bronchoscope: view the bronchioles
• 3. cytoscope: view the bladder
• 4. sigmoidoscope: view the sigmoid colon
• 5. colonscope: view the entire colon
• 6. laproscope: view pelvic organs

The TYPE of cell changes

Cells vary in SIZE and SHAPE

Cells change in SIZE

Cells change in NUMBER

Cells lose their normal metabolism and become tumors. This often follows severe dysplasia.

• 1. Cell swelling
• 2. Fatty change

injured cell is unable to transport sodium out of cell. sodium and water then diffuse into the cell causing it to swell.

The enzyme systems that metabolize fat become impaired resulting in the accumulation of fat in the cell.

The structural changes to a cell following the the irreparable damage and death of a cell. All necrotic cell are dead but not all dead cells are necrotic.

Programmed cell death when a cell reached the end of its lifespan. If the regulatory mechanism fails there may be an accumulation of an excessive number of an excessice number of cells or tumor.

• 1. Symptomatic - with symptoms and/or signs
• 2. Asymptomatic - without symptoms and/or signs

A disturbance of body structure or function

Structural Changes

• • Associated with structural changes, lesions.
• • Examined through naked eye, gross examination
• • Or through microscope, histologic examination

Adaptive response whe cells are called upon to inactivate or detoxify drugs or chemicals

• 1. Atrophy
• 2. Hypertrophy
• 3. Hyperplasia
• 4. Metaplasia
• 5. Dysplasia
• 6. Neoplasia
• 7. Increase in Enzyme Synthesis

• Specific - exerts highly specific and favorable effects on the basic course of the disease

• Symptomatic - makes patient more comfortable be alleviating symptom but does not influence the course of the undelying disease

Determination of the nature and cause of a patient's illness by a physician based on:

• 1. Patient's symptoms
• 2. Patient's signs
• 3. Laboratory results
• 4. Other diagnostic procedures

An opinion concerning the the eventual outcome of the disease

Measures to relieve symptoms or cure disease

• 1. Clinical History
• 2. Physical Exam
• 3. Differential Diagnosis

1. Consideration of various diseases or conditions that would fit the clinical or physical findings.

2. More than one diagnosis may need to be considered

3. Consideration of a number of diseases characterized by the patient's symptoms and signs

4. List of diagnostic possibilities may be narrowed by lab test or other procedures

5. Consultation may be sought