introduction to pathology

• What is the definition of pathology?


  The study of disease, including its causes, effects, and progression.
• What does aetiology refer to?


  The cause of a specific disease.
• How is incidence defined in epidemiology?


  It is the number of new cases of a disease that occur in a population over a specific period of time.
• What is the focus of epidemiology?


  The study of how diseases spread and affect populations and how to control them.
• What does prevalence measure?


  The total number of cases of a disease in a population at a given time, including both new and pre-existing cases.
• What is the process of diagnosis?


  The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms.
• What does prognosis predict?


  The likely course of a disease, including the chance of recovery, recurrence, or death.
• What is pathogenesis concerned with?


  The origin, development, and underlying causes of a disease.
• What does pathophysiology study?


  The physiological changes that occur as a result of the disease process.
• What are signs in the context of disease?


  An objective indication and evidence of a disease.
• How is disease defined?


  A specific medical condition, e.g., asthma, gout, Parkinson's disease.
• What does the term illness refer to?


  A broad term that defines a period of sickness affecting the body or mind.
• What does the term condition indicate?


  A state of health, e.g., well, ill, stable, serious, critical.
• How is disorder defined?


  A group of symptoms that disrupt normal physical or mental functions.
• What is a syndrome?


  A group of symptoms that occur together and may covary over time.
• What does disability refer to?


  A restriction that results from an impairment.
• What is impairment?


  A loss or abnormality in a person’s body or mind.
• How are symptoms defined?

  A person’s subjective experience that may indicate a disease or condition.
• What is the sequence of events that occurs due to a lack of oxygen at the cellular level?

  Lack of oxygen leads to ischemia, hypoxia, and then anoxia.
• What are the types of physical injuries that can damage cells?

  • Mechanical trauma
  • Extreme temperature
  • Radiation
  • Electric shock
  • Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure
• What are examples of chemical injuries that can affect cells?


  • Medications
  • Poisons
  • Pesticides
• What types of infections can cause cellular damage?

  • Parasites
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Fungi
• How can an immune response lead to cellular injury?


  • Autoimmune diseases such as:
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
• What are examples of injuries resulting from genetic defects?


  • Down syndrome
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• What nutritional imbalances can lead to cellular injury?


  • Iron deficiency
  • Calcium deficiency
• what is happening on a tissue level and underlying processes + pathophysiology?

  Oedema

  Jaundice

  Inflammation

  Infection

  Cellular death/necrosis
• The most recent version of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is updated annually at the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Network meeting in October. The ICF is a biopsychosocial model that describes how a person's health, environment, and personal factors interact to determine their ability to function.
• two parts of the ICF


  Functioning and Disability

  Includes body functions and structures, activity and participation, and activity limitations

  Contextual Factors

  Includes environmental factors, such as family, work, and laws, and personal factors, such as race, gender, and age
• What are red flags in a medical context?


  Indicators that suggest a serious underlying condition
• What is the difference between localized and generalized conditions?


  Localized conditions affect a specific area, while generalized conditions affect the whole body
• How do acute and chronic conditions differ?


  Acute conditions are sudden and severe, while chronic conditions persist over a long time
• What is inflammation?


  A biological response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens or injury
• What is the distinction between primary and secondary pathology?


  • Primary pathology: Main medical complaint with no underlying cause
  • Secondary pathology: Caused by a primary pathology
• What is an example of primary hypertension?


  A patient's blood pressure is high for no known reason
• What is an example of secondary hypertension?


  A patient's blood pressure is high due to another medical condition, like a tumor on the adrenal gland
• What are the differences between primary and secondary cancer?


  • Primary cancer: Originates in an organ or tissue (e.g., primary lung cancer)
  • Secondary cancer: Spreads from another organ to a different region (e.g., lung cancer spreading to the brain)
• psychological signs and symptoms

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Behavior changes
  • Alcoholic dementia
  • Worry
  • Irritability
  • Apprehension
  • Low mood
  • Loss of interest
  • Guilt suicidal thoughts
  • Addiction
  • Personality change
• somatic signs and symptoms

  • Physical injuries
  • Liver disease
  • VitB1 deficiency (Thiamine)
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • GI problems
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Palpitation
  • Tremors
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Decreased libido
  • Breathlessness/SOB
• wider impacts of MSK conditions

  • Interaction between mental health and MSK health
  • Depression is 4x more common for those people in persistent pain
  • ⅔ of OA patients report depression symptoms when the pain is the worst
  • 1 in 6 RA patients have major depression
  • Comorbidity
  • Musculoskeletal conditions account for 68% if chronic painful conditions
  • 87% of people with chronic pain will also have another significant medical problem
• What is the term used to describe the presence of two or more significant health conditions in a patient?

  Comorbidity