chapter 5: pathology Flashcards
etiology
cause
idiopathic
unknown
anorexia
- > lack of appetite.
- > (-orexia= appetite)
- > often a sign of malignancy or liver disease
-> different from anorexia nervosa (emotional eating disorder)
ascites
- > abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
- > can be a sign of neoplasm or inflammatory disorders in the abdomen, venous hypertension (high blood pressure) cause by liver disease (cirrhosis), or heart failure.
- > treatment: diuretic drugs and paracentesis to remove fluid
borborygmi
rumbling or gurgling noises produced by the movement of gas, fluid, or both in the gastrointestinal tract
-> Signs of hyperactive intestinal peristalsis, borborygmi (bowel sounds) often are present in cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea.
sign
an objective finding- such as an increase in body temp, a rash, or a sound heard on listening to the chest-indicating the presence of disease as perceived by an examiner
symptom
is a subjective sensation or change in health- such as itching, pain, fatigue, or nausea-as experienced by the patient
dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing
can be because of:
-physical obstruction (obstructive dysphagia)
-motor disorder in which esophageal peristalsis is not coordinated (motor dysphagia)
eructation
gas expelled from the stomach through the mouth
-also known as burping
flatus
gas expelled through the anus
-one sign of a bowel obstruction is the inability to pass flatus, fart
hematochezia
passage of fresh, bright red blood from the rectum.
cause: -usually hemorrhoids can also be: -colitis -ulcers -polyps -cancer
jaundice (icterus)
yellow-orange coloration of the skin and whites of the eyes cause by high levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia)
-jaundice can occur when (1) excessive destruction of erythrocytes, as in hemolysis, causes excess bilirubin in the blood; (2) malfunction of liver cells (hepatocytes) due to liver disease prevents the liver from excreting bilirubin with bile; or (3) obstruction of bile flow, such as from choledocholithiasis or tumor, prevents bilirubin in bile from being excreted into the duodenum.
melena
black, tarry stools; feces containing digested blood
-results from bleeding in the upper GI tract
steatorrhea
fat in the feces
Cause:
-may occur with disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis) when pancreatic enzymes are not excreted.
-also a sign of intestinal disease that involves malabsorption of fat
aphthous stomatitis
inflammation of the mouth with small, painful ulcers. also known as canker sores
cause:
unknown
dental caries
tooth decay
herpetic stomatitis
inflammation of the mouth caused by infection with the herpesvirus
Cause:
- herpes simplex virus 1
- herpes genitalis (due to HSV2) involves the reproductive organs
oral leukoplakia
white plaques or patches on the mucosa of the mouth
- > precancerous lesion
- > results from chronic tobacco use
periodontal disease
inflammation and degeneration of gums, teeth, and surrounding bone.
- > in gingivectomy, the periodontist uses a metal instrument to scrape away plaque and tartar from teeth; any pockets of pus (pyorrhea) are then drained and removed to allow new tissue to form.
- > localized infections are treated with systemic antibiotics
achalasia
failure of the lower esophagus sphincter (LES) muscle to relax
- > results from the loss of peristalsis so that food cannot pass easily through the esophagus
- > drs. recommend a bland diet low in bulk and mechanical stretching of the LES to relieve symptoms
esophageal cancer
malignant tumor of the esophagus
Common symotom: difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
risk factors:
- smoking
- chronic drinking
-> Barrett esophagus: long-term irritation of the esophagus caused by gastric reflux is a premalignant condition
Treatment options:
- surgery
- radiation
- chemotherapy
esophageal varices
swollen varicose veins at the lower end of the esophagus
Treatments:
- banding (tying off the swollen esophageal veins) or sclerotherapy (injecting veins with a solution that closes them)
- drug therapy to lower portal hypertension can be used to decrease the risk of variceal bleeding
gastric cancer
malignant tumor of the stomach
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
solids and fluids return to the mouth from the stomach. heartburn. Chronic exposure of esophageal mucosa to gastric acid and pepsin (an enzyme that digests protein) leads to reflux esophagitis.
- treatment:
- antacid
- medication to increase the tone of the LES