Dr. JonesUniversity of Arkansas

DiseaseDisease

PathologyPathology

EtiologyEtiology

Organic Disease Any disturbance of structure of the body Well-defined structural changes in the

body. Lesions form in tissues and organs

Example: Cancer

Functional Disease No change in structure, but evidence of

change in bodily function

Example: nervous and mental disease

Signs & Symptoms SymptomsSymptoms – subjective findings

SignsSigns – objective/physical findings

AsymptomaticAsymptomatic – a disease or illness that causes no immediate disability or discomfort

PathologyPathology—The study of disease

PathogenesisPathogenesis – the means by which a disease develops

PathogenPathogen – a microorganism, such as bacterium or virus, that causes disease

The origins or causes of disease

The first step in the history of a disease

EpidemiologyEpidemiology – study of disease transmission, development, and consequences in populations to identify etiology and distributions of disease

DiagnosisDiagnosis – determination of the nature and cause of a person’s illness

Based on the evaluation of patients: Symptoms Physical findings Laboratory tests Other diagnostic procedures Clinical history

Steps in Diagnosis1. Diagnosis/

prognosis2. Clinical history3. Physical

examination4. Treatment

Clinical History Involves:

History of patients’ current illness Past medical history Family history Social history A review of systems

Prognosis

Opinion concerning the eventual outcome of the disease

Course of treatment will follow prognosis

Physical Examination

Systematic examination of a patient’s condition

Particular interest is focused on the part of the body affected by the illness

Treatment Specific TreatmentSpecific Treatment – treatment

directed at the basic cause of disease or illness (example: insulin for diabetes)

Symptomatic TreatmentSymptomatic Treatment – treatment directed at alleviating the symptoms of disease or illness (example: medication to reduce fever)

Diagnostic Tests & Procedures Invasive Procedures – invasion of body

to obtain information about a patient’s condition (example: injection of needles)

Noninvasive Procedures – tests that have minimal risk or discomfort (example: x-rays)

Types of Diagnostic Tests Clinical lab tests Radioisotopes studies Electrical activity tests Ultrasound X-ray examinations Endoscopy Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Cytological and histological examinations

Evaluation of the functions of various types of organs through the placement of radioactive material called radioisotopes

Radiation detectors then monitor the uptake of the material

Used to detect anemia, blood clots, and blood flow

Electrocardiogram (ECG) – heart Electroencephalogram (EEG) – brain Electromyogram – (EMG) – muscle Electrodes are attached to various parts

of the body to determine its associated electrical activity

Technique for mapping echoes produced by high-frequency sound waves transmitted into the body

Can identify gallstones and prostate cancer

X-rays are passed through the examined body part and the rays leaving the body expose an x-ray film

Low density (lungs) body parts expose as black, whereas high density (bones) body parts expose as white

Examples: mammogram, angiogram, computed tomographic (CT) scan

An examination of the interior of the body through various lighted tubular instruments

Computer generated images based on the movement of hydrogen atoms in tissues subjected to a strong magnetic field.

Involves the removal of a small sample of tissue from a diseased tissue or organ.

Example: Biopsy and Pap smear