Unit 5- Introduction To Disease

The study of disease processes with the aim of understanding their nature & cause.

By examining urine samples (to check kidney function), blood samples (e.g. lipid levels), & tissue biopsies (e.g. liver biopsy).

The study of the cause of diseases.

The process by which a cause alters an existing process to produce a disease.

Signs: Detected by a clinician but not necessarily evident to the patient. * Symptoms: The damage caused by the disease combined with the body’s response.

Developmental, inflammatory, neoplasticism, & degenerative diseases.

The gradual deterioration in vitality associated with aging & tissue/cell atrophy.

Environmental and genetic factors.

• Physical agents: Trauma, radiation, electricity, constant pressure. • Chemical: Arsenic, acids/alkalis, toxins, & medicines • Reduced oxygen supply: Hypoxia or anoxia • Nutritional deficiencies: Starvation, vitamin deficiencies, dietary excess. • Viruses • Abnormal immune reactions: Hypersensitivity, autoimmune diseases.

An unexpected consequence of medical treatment causing disease.

*Hypoxia: Reduced blood flow due to atherosclerosis * Anoxia: Complete blockage of blood flow.

Overactive immune responses, such as anaphylactic shock or asthma.

Diseases caused by the immune system attacking the body e.g. thyroiditis, pernicious anemia.

• Normal genes: Variability in genetic polymorphism & environmental influences. • Abnormal genes: Mutations, chromosome translocations, or duplications.

• Sickle cell anaemia (point mutation). • Burkitt’s lymphoma (chromosome translocation) • Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21)

A chronic inflammatory disease of the colon, characterised by diarrhoea with mucus & blood, cramping abdominal pain & mucus membrane ulceration.

The death of cells due to infection, injury, hypoxia, physical trauma, or chemical trauma, leading to unregulated cell disintegration.

Disassembly of cell membranes, protein denaturation, coagulation, & uncontrolled enzymatic activity.

Programmed cell death that removes cells in an orderly manner, playing a role in development, maintenance, & tissue renewal.

Necrosis involves unregulated cell leakage, while apoptosis involves bundled apoptotic bodies safely removed by phagocytic cells.

Packaged cellular fragments produced during apoptosis for safe destruction by phagocytic cells.

Damage that does not kill the cell but contributes to disease morbidity, e.g. amyloid accumulation.

It causes stiffness in tissues like the heart. Reducing cardiac efficiency & output.

Dystrophic classification: Occurs after necrotic damage (e.g. lunge infection). Metastatic classification: secondary to hypercalcemia, often due to parathyroid hormone imbalance.