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pathophysiology

 
Dictionary: path·o·phys·i·ol·o·gy   (păth'ō-fĭz'ē-ŏl'ə-jē) pronunciation
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n. In both senses also called physiopathology.
  1. The functional changes associated with or resulting from disease or injury.
  2. The scientific study of such changes.
pathophysiologic path'o·phys'i·o·log'ic (-ə-lŏj'ĭk) or path'o·phys'i·o·log'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
pathophysiologist path'o·phys'i·ol'o·gist n.

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Veterinary Dictionary: pathophysiology
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The physiology of disordered function.

Wikipedia: Pathophysiology
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Pathophysiology sample values
BMP/ELECTROLYTES:
Na+=140 Cl-=100 BUN=20 /
Glu=150
K+=4 CO2=22 PCr=1.0 \
ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS:
HCO3-=24 paCO2=40 paO2=95 pH=7.40
ALVEOLAR GAS:
pACO2=36 pAO2=105 A-a g=10
OTHER:
Ca=9.5 PO4=1 Mg2+=2.0
CK=55 BE=-0.36 AG=16
SERUM OSMOLARITY/RENAL:
PMO = 300 PCO=295 POG=5 BUN:Cr=20
URINALYSIS:
UNa+=80 UCl-=100 UAG=5 FENa=0.95
UK+=25 USG=1.01 UCr=60 UO=800
PROTEIN/GI/LIVER FUNCTION TESTS:
LDH=100 TP=7.6 AST=25 TBIL=0.7
ALP=71 Alb=4.0 ALT=40 BC=0.5
AST/ALT=0.6 BU=0.2
AF alb=3.0 SAAG=1.0 SOG=60
CSF:
CSF alb=30 CSF glu=60 CSF/S alb=7.5 CSF/S glu=0.4

Pathophysiology is the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome.[1] More formally, it is the branch of medicine which deals with any disturbances of body functions, caused by disease or prodromal symptoms.

An alternate definition is "the study of the biological and physical manifestations of disease as they correlate with the underlying abnormalities and physiological disturbances."[2]

The study of pathology and the study of pathophysiology often involves substantial overlap in diseases and processes, but pathology emphasizes direct observations, while pathophysiology emphasizes quantifiable measurements.

Contents

Examples

An example from the field of infectious disease would be the study of a toxin released by a bacterium, and what that toxin does to the body to cause harm, one possible result being sepsis.

Another example is the study of the chemical changes that take place in body tissue due to inflammation. the intersection of two older, related disciplines: (normal) physiology and pathology.

  • Physiology is the study of normal, healthy bodily function (as opposed to anatomy, which is the study of normal structure). When something disrupts normal physiological processes, it enters the realm of pathophysiology.
  • Pathology, broadly speaking, is the "study of the nature and cause of disease."[3] or the results of disease in the body.

Pathophysiology looks at the specific malfunctioning that comes from or - alternately - causes disease.

One caution in this approach is that "healthy" structure and function is not precisely the same in any two individuals.

Uses

Pathophysiology is a required area of study for nearly all healthcare professional school programs (medical, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, nursing and paramedic programs) in the United States and other countries.

See also

Popular Culture

In the 1969 Beatles' song Maxwell's Silver Hammer from the Abbey Road Album, (written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney), this term can be found in the opening lyric. The song begins, "Joan was quizzical studied pathophysical, science in the home. Late nights all alone with a test tube, Jo-oh-oh oan."

References

  1. ^ "Pathophysiology - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pathophysiology. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  2. ^ Craig Scanlon, Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy, St. Louis, 1999, p. 1186.
  3. ^ Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Clayton Thomas, Philadelphia, 1993, p. 1445.

External links

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pathophysiology".  Read more