atrophy

reduction in the size or number of cells in an organ or tissue, with a corresponding decrease in function

hypertrophy

increase in the size of the cells of a tissue or organ in response to a demand for increased function

hyperplasia

increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

dysplasia

loss of uniformity of individual cells and their architectural orientation

neoplasia

ungoverned abnormal proliferation of cells

oncology

study of neoplasms (tumors)

benign

growth that closely resembles the cells of origin on structure and function

malignant

neoplastic growth that invades and destroys adjacent structures

metastasize

malignant neoplasms that travel to distant sites

carcinoma

malignant neoplasm of epithelial cell origin

anaplastic

undifferentiated cell growth, without form (bizarre)

sarcoma

highly malignant tumor originating from connective tissue

lymphatic spread

major route by which carcinoma metastasizes

hematogenous spread

malignant tumors that have invaded the circulatory system and travel as neoplastic emboli

grading

assessment of aggressiveness or degree of malignancy

staging

1) extensiveness of tumor at the primary site
2) presence or absence of metastases to lymph nodes and distant organs

epidemiology

study of determinants of disease events in given populations

morbidity

rate that an illness or abnormality occurs

mortality

reflects the number of deaths by disease per population

hereditary diseases and process

genetic information contained in the nucleus of each cell passed to the Next Generation

mutations

alteration in the DNA structures that may become permanent hereditary change

antigens

foreign substances that evoke an immune response

antibodies

immunoglobulins responding to the antigens to make them harmless

immune

protected against antigens, antibodies binding with antigens to make them harmless

active immunity

forming antibodies to counteract an antigen by way of vaccine or toxoid

toxoid

treated toxin with antigenic power to produce immunity by creating antibodies

anaphylactic reaction

hypersensitive reaction resulting in a histamine release

standard precautions

protection used when delivering Healthcare Services to any person

PPE  or personal protective equipment

Gowns, gloves, masks, shoe covers and eye protection used to prevent transmission of potentially infectious agents

transmission based precautions

additional protective equipment to prevent the spread of Highly infectious pathogens through contact, droplet, or Airborne transmission

pathology

study of diseases that can cause abnormalities in the structure or function

disease

pattern of the body's response to some form of injury that causes deviation from or variation of normal conditions

signs

measurable or objective manifestations

symptoms

feelings that the patient describes, subjective manifestations

iatrogenic

disease caused by physician or treatment

nosocomial infections

infections contracted in the acute care facilities also known as hospital-acquired infections

community-acquired infections

infections contracted in a public setting outside the Acute Care Facility

idiopathic

underlying cause is unknown

inflammation

initial response of the tissue to local injury

granulation tissue

fibrous scar replaces destroyed tissue

pyogenic bacteria

thick, yellow fluid called pus (dead white cells)

abscess

localized, usually encapsulated, collection of fluid

bacteremia

potential involvement of other organs and tissues in the body by organisms invading the blood vessels

edema

accumulation of abnormal amounts of fluid in the intercellular tissue spaces or body cavities

anasarca

generalized edema that occurs with pronounce swelling of subcutaneous tissues throughout the body

elephantiasis

localized lymphatic obstruction resulting in localized edema

ischemia

interference of blood supply to an organ, deprive cells and tissues of oxygen and nutrients

infarction

localized area of ischemic necrosis within a tissue or organ produced by occlusion of either its arterial supply or venous drainage

hemorrhage

implies rupture of a blood-vessel

hematoma

accumulation of blood trapped within body tissue