Pathophysiology is the study of the disturbance of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from a disease or abnormal syndrome or condition that may not qualify to be called a disease. A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly An alternate definition is "the study of the biological and physical manifestations of disease as they correlate with the underlying abnormalities and physiological disturbances. "[1]
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. An infectious disease is a clinically evident Disease resulting from the presence of Pathogenic microbial agents including Pathogenic viruses Pathogenic A toxin ( Greek:, toxikon, lit (poison for use on arrows is a Poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms that is active at very low Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state (called a Systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS caused Another example is the study of the chemical changes that take place in body tissue due to inflammation. Inflammation ( Latin, inflamatio, to set on fire is the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli such as Pathogens
Pathophysiology can be looked at as the intersection of two older, related disciplines: (normal) physiology and pathology. Physiology (from Greek grc φύσις physis, "nature origin" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the mechanical physical Pathology (from Greek grc πάθος pathos, "fate harm" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study and
Physiology is the study of normal, healthy bodily function (as opposed to anatomy, which is the study of normal structure). Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana separate apart from and temnein, to cut up cut open is a branch of Biology that is the consideration 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. "[2] or the results of disease in the body. Pathophysiology looks at the detailed 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.
Pathophysiology is a required study for most nursing school programs in the United States as well as other countries.
See also
References
- Kumar, V. , Abbas, A. and N. Fausto. 2004. Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company
External Links
Dictionary
pathophysiology
-noun
- (pathology) The physiological processes associated with disease or injury.
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