Pathophysiology Unit 1 | Chapter 1 (Porth 5th Edition)

Question 1

World Health Organization (WHO) Definition of Health

Answer 1

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (1948).

Question 2

Healthy People 2020 Determinants

Answer 2

1. Attain lives free of preventable disease; 2. Achieve health equity; 3. Promote health for all; 4. Promote healthy behaviors across the lifespan.

Question 3

Pathophysiology

Answer 3

The physiology of altered health, combining pathology (structural/functional changes in disease) and physiology (body functions). Focuses on disease mechanisms and preventive/therapeutic measures.

Question 4

Etiology

Answer 4

Study of disease causes, including biologic agents, physical forces, chemicals, genetics, and nutritional factors. Most diseases are multifactorial.

Question 5

Pathogenesis

Answer 5

Sequence of cellular/tissue events from initial etiology to disease manifestation (e.g., atherosclerosis progression leading to coronary artery disease).

Question 6

Morphology

Answer 6

Study of structural changes in cells/tissues caused by disease (e.g., atrophy, hypertrophy). Includes gross and microscopic changes.

Question 7

Histology

Answer 7

Study of cells and extracellular matrix in tissues, often using histologic sections for diagnosis (e.g., cancer detection).

Question 8

Clinical Manifestations

Answer 8

Signs (objective, observable) and symptoms (subjective, reported by patient). Includes syndromes, complications, and sequelae.

Question 9

Diagnosis

Answer 9

Process involving history, physical exam, and tests to identify a health problem. Considers validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.

Question 10

Clinical Course

Answer 10

Disease progression: acute (severe, self-limiting), chronic (prolonged), subacute (intermediate). Includes preclinical, subclinical, and clinical stages.

Question 11

Epidemiology

Answer 11

Study of disease patterns in populations, including risk factors, incidence, prevalence, and prevention strategies.

Question 12

Incidence

Answer 12

Number of new disease cases in a population during a specified period (e.g., per 100,000 people).

Question 13

Prevalence

Answer 13

Total existing disease cases in a population at a given time. Reflects both new cases and disease duration.

Question 14

Morbidity

Answer 14

Impact of disease on quality of life (e.g., disability, pain). Measures disease persistence and long-term effects.

Question 15

Mortality

Answer 15

Statistics on causes of death in a population (e.g., crude mortality rate, age-adjusted rates).

Question 16

Risk Factors

Answer 16

Conditions contributing to disease (e.g., smoking, genetics). Identified via cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort studies.

Question 17

Cross-Sectional Study

Answer 17

Compares disease prevalence between exposed and unexposed groups at a single time point.

Question 18

Case-Control Study

Answer 18

Compares individuals with a disease (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome).

Question 19

Cohort Study

Answer 19

Longitudinal study tracking a group over time to observe health outcomes (e.g., Framingham Study, Nurses’ Health Study).

Question 20

Natural History

Answer 20

Disease progression and outcome without medical intervention (e.g., hepatitis C chronic infection rates).

Question 21

Prognosis

Answer 21

Predicted disease outcome, including survival chances, complications, or recovery likelihood.

Question 22

Primary Prevention

Answer 22

Prevents disease onset by removing risk factors (e.g., vaccines, healthy lifestyle education).

Question 23

Secondary Prevention

Answer 23

Early disease detection in asymptomatic stages for curative treatment (e.g., Pap smears, colonoscopies).

Question 24

Tertiary Prevention

Answer 24

Reduces complications or disability from existing disease (e.g., beta-blockers post-heart attack, support groups).

Question 25

Evidence-Based Practice

Answer 25

Clinical decisions guided by scientific evidence, integrating research with practitioner expertise.

Question 26

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Answer 26

Systematic recommendations for patient care, based on meta-analyses and expert consensus (e.g., hypertension guidelines).

Question 27

Validity

Answer 27

Extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure (e.g., blood pressure accuracy vs. intraarterial readings).

Question 28

Reliability

Answer 28

Consistency of test results upon repetition (e.g., calibrated equipment, standardized techniques).

Question 29

Sensitivity

Answer 29

Proportion of true-positive results; a highly sensitive test rules out disease if negative.

Question 30

Specificity

Answer 30

Proportion of true-negative results; a highly specific test confirms disease if positive.

Question 31

Positive Predictive Value (PPV)

Answer 31

Proportion of true positives among all positive test results (increases with disease prevalence).

Question 32

Negative Predictive Value (NPV)

Answer 32

Proportion of true negatives among all negative test results (decreases with disease prevalence).

Question 33

Syndrome

Answer 33

Collection of signs/symptoms characteristic of a disease (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome).

Question 34

Complications

Answer 34

Adverse extensions of a disease or treatment (e.g., sepsis from untreated infection).

Question 35

Sequelae

Answer 35

Long-term effects or impairments following a disease (e.g., scar tissue post-myocardial infarction).

Question 36

Carrier Status

Answer 36

Harboring a pathogen without symptoms, capable of transmitting it (e.g., chronic hepatitis B carriers).

Question 37

Exacerbation

Answer 37

Worsening of disease symptoms or severity (e.g., asthma flare-up).

Question 38

Remission

Answer 38

Temporary or permanent reduction/absence of disease symptoms (e.g., cancer remission).

Question 39

Framingham Study

Answer 39

Landmark cohort study (1950) identifying cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, cholesterol).

Question 40

Nurses’ Health Study

Answer 40

Ongoing cohort study (1976) exploring women’s health links (e.g., oral contraceptives, diet, cancer).