Pathophysiology Terms

Question 1

pathology

Answer 1

Study of disease.

Question 2

pathophysiology

Answer 2

Study of effects and progression of disease and injury.

Question 3

signs

Answer 3

Objectively observable phenomena of disease process.

Question 4

symptoms

Answer 4

Patient’s subjective sensations of the body’s responses to disease.

Question 5

anaphylaxis

Answer 5

Severe allergic reaction

Question 6

pneumothorax

Answer 6

A collapsed lung.

Question 7

pulmonary edema

Answer 7

Fluid in the lungs.

Question 8

hypoxia

Answer 8

Lack of oxygen.

Question 9

sodium/potassium pump

Answer 9

System that maintains chemical and electrical gradient across the cell membrane, allowing for functions like depolarization, transport, and signalling.

Largest consumer of ATP in the body.

One cycle = One ATP
Moves 3 Na out of cell
Moves 2 K into cell

(Inequality maintains osmotic gradient.)

Question 10

pyruvate

Answer 10

Result of glycolysis.

One GLU -> 2 pyruvate + 4 ATP.

Question 11

lactic acid

Answer 11

In the absense of Oxygen,
pyruvate is converted into lactic acid
during anaerobic metabolism.

Question 12

apoptosis

Answer 12

Cellular-directed death, and release of lysosomal enzymes furthering destruction of apoptotic cell AND surrounding cells.

Question 13

anatomical dead space

Answer 13

The 150mL of air that remains in conducting portion of the airways and is not subject to gas exchange.

Question 14

atelectasis

Answer 14

Collapse of alveoli due to loss of surfactant.

Question 15

pulmonary embolism

Answer 15

An obstruction to blood flow through the pulmonary circulation.

Question 16

respiratory failure

Answer 16

Loss of ability to deliver sufficient oxygen to cells.

Failure to compensate.

Progresses to respiratory arrest.

Question 17

respiratory arrest

Answer 17

Ceasing respiration. Leads to cardiac arrest and death.

Question 18

asphyxiation

Answer 18

A MOI that causes inability to obtain oxygen, for example drowning or respiratory failure.

Question 19

hypothermia

Answer 19

Lowered body temperature, outside of normal limits.

Question 20

sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

Answer 20

Cessation of heart function due to sudden cardiac rhythm disturbance. (Most often due to CAD.)

Question 21

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 21

Random electrical activity (unorganized rhythm) in ventricles.

Myocardium quivers ineffectively, producing no CO.

Shockable.

Question 22

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 22

Single ectopic pacemaker in ventricles overrides SA node.

Sometimes a pulse, sometimes not.

Shockable.

Question 23

defibrillation

Answer 23

Passing electrical current through the heart to restore normal rhythm.

Question 24

diabetic ketoacidosis

Answer 24

A state of metabolic acidosis.

In some patients ketones are detectable on the breath.

Question 25

CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3

Answer 25

CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3

Question 26

shock

Answer 26

Inadequate oxygen supply to meet needs of cellular demands.

Question 27

compensated shock

Answer 27

Earliest stage of shock in which processes are still able to compensate. BP doesn't drop.

Question 28

decompensated shock

Answer 28

Stage of shock in which body is no longer able to compensate. Blood pressure begins to drop.

Question 29

irreversible shock

Answer 29

Decompensation resulting in extensive cell death and tissue damage, meaning the patient will die regardless of treatment. Even if circulation is restored, organ failure or clotting disorder will eventually kill patient.

Question 30

ischemia

Answer 30

Lack of blood flow to tissue, causing hypoxia.

Question 31

electron transport chain

Answer 31

The series of enzymes that receive the end products of glycolysis and extract energy from them in the form of H ions. Electrons have to be transferred from one enzyme to another using Oxygen to pull them.

Question 32

lung compliance

Answer 32

The amount of resistance to air movement.