Pathophysiology - BIOD 331 - Module 1
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"? - answer Pathophysiology is defined as not
only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but also the effects that
these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed. - answer Etiologic factors are
the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't necessarily
develop the disease but are predisposition to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism.
Nutritional excess in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors? - answer Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology? - answer Morphology is
defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the study of
the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each. -
answerThese both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an objective
manifestation while symptoms are a subjective complaint. Signs are apparent to the
physician, symptoms are apparent to the patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis? - answerPatient history,
diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. - answerValidity: how a tool
measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool to do the job, such as using
a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on
someone's experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks. - answerEpidemiology is the
study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a community by tracking age, race,
nutritional habits and locations.
, What is the difference between incidence and prevalence? - answerIncidence is the
number of new cases in the population at a given time, prevalence is the number of
cases that exist in the population at a given time.
Define mortality and morbidity. - answerMortality is the reason for death in a population.
Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's life, as it pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each. -
answerPrimary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease from occurring,
for example eating healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either still
curable or asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions happen to
cause further complications. For example, using medication to reduce the risk of future
heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important? - answerEvidence-based practice is
important because medical professions follow up-to-date information and studies in
order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are followed,
preventing physicians from using outdates practices that no longer benefit the patient.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell? - answerThe nucleus, cytoplasm, and
plasma membrane
What is the function of the nucleus? - answerThe nucleus is the control center for the
cell and contains most of the hereditary material, DNA and RNA.
Name 3 structures within the nucleus. - answerChromatin, nucleolus, and nuclear
envelope
What are the roles of the ribosomes, rough ER, and smooth ER? - answerRibosomes
synthesize proteins.
Rough ER carries ribosomes and synthesizes lysosomal enzymes.
Smooth ER NO RIBOSOMES. Creates lipids, lipoproteins, and steroid hormones.
What is the function of the lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria? -
answerLysosomes break down proteins.
Peroxisomes break down free radicals through the secretion of an enzyme that breaks
down peroxides.
Mitochondria are the power house of the cell. They transform organic compounds into
cellular energy.
What is contained in the cytoskeleton and what is its function? - answerThe
cytoskeleton contains a network of microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments,
and thick filaments. They control cell shape and movement.
What is the definition of "pathophysiology"? - answer Pathophysiology is defined as not
only the cellular and organ changes that occur with disease, but also the effects that
these changes have on total body function.
Name the 5 etiologic factors and give an example if listed. - answer Etiologic factors are
the causes of a disease.
1. Physical forces: trauma, burns, etc
2. Chemical agents: poisons, alcohol
3. Biological agents: bacteria, viruses
4. Genetic predisposition: inherent genes from both parents but you don't necessarily
develop the disease but are predisposition to it
5. Nutritional excess or deficiencies: Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism.
Nutritional excess in carbohydrates can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the 2 types of risk factors? - answer Congenital: present at birth
Acquired: occur after birth
What is the difference between morphology and histology? - answer Morphology is
defined as the fundamental structure or form of cells or tissues. Histology is the study of
the cells and extracellular matrix of body tissues.
Describe the difference between signs and symptoms and give an example of each. -
answerThese both relate to manifestations of a disease. Signs is an objective
manifestation while symptoms are a subjective complaint. Signs are apparent to the
physician, symptoms are apparent to the patient.
What are 3 important processes when coming to a diagnosis? - answerPatient history,
diagnostic testing, and a physical examination.
Explain validity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. - answerValidity: how a tool
measures what it is intended to measure i.e. the correct tool to do the job, such as using
a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure
Reliability: likelihood of yielding the same result of a test, usually dependent on
someone's experience and skill level
Sensitivity: proportion of people with a disease who test positive
Specificity: people without the disease who test negative for it
Define epidemiology and name some things that it tracks. - answerEpidemiology is the
study of disease occurrence. It tracks the health of a community by tracking age, race,
nutritional habits and locations.
, What is the difference between incidence and prevalence? - answerIncidence is the
number of new cases in the population at a given time, prevalence is the number of
cases that exist in the population at a given time.
Define mortality and morbidity. - answerMortality is the reason for death in a population.
Morbidity is the effect of the illness on someone's life, as it pertains to their quality of life.
Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of each. -
answerPrimary prevention is what a person does to prevent a disease from occurring,
for example eating healthy and exercising.
Secondary prevention is aiming to detect and treat diseases when they are either still
curable or asymptomatic. An example of this is a colonoscopy
Tertiary prevention is when a disease is diagnosed and clinical interventions happen to
cause further complications. For example, using medication to reduce the risk of future
heart attacks.
Why is evidence-based practice important? - answerEvidence-based practice is
important because medical professions follow up-to-date information and studies in
order to treat diseases. This ensures that new treatment options are followed,
preventing physicians from using outdates practices that no longer benefit the patient.
What are the 3 primary structures of the cell? - answerThe nucleus, cytoplasm, and
plasma membrane
What is the function of the nucleus? - answerThe nucleus is the control center for the
cell and contains most of the hereditary material, DNA and RNA.
Name 3 structures within the nucleus. - answerChromatin, nucleolus, and nuclear
envelope
What are the roles of the ribosomes, rough ER, and smooth ER? - answerRibosomes
synthesize proteins.
Rough ER carries ribosomes and synthesizes lysosomal enzymes.
Smooth ER NO RIBOSOMES. Creates lipids, lipoproteins, and steroid hormones.
What is the function of the lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria? -
answerLysosomes break down proteins.
Peroxisomes break down free radicals through the secretion of an enzyme that breaks
down peroxides.
Mitochondria are the power house of the cell. They transform organic compounds into
cellular energy.
What is contained in the cytoskeleton and what is its function? - answerThe
cytoskeleton contains a network of microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments,
and thick filaments. They control cell shape and movement.
