Pathophysiology Questions and Answers| Updated
What is atrophy and what causes it?
Atrophy is a decrease in the size of an organ or tissue resulting from a decrease in
the mass of pre-existing cells. It's typically a result from disuse, nutritional or
oxygen deprivation, diminished endocrine stimulation, aging, and denervation
(lack of nerve stimulation in peripheral muscles caused by injury to motor nerves).
Example: bed ridden
latency period
Disease is present but has not shown any symptoms
Incubation period
interval between initial infection and first signs and symptoms
hypertrophy
Cells increase in size. Example body builder. The breakdown of muscles to grow
bigger muscles
Hyperplasia
cells increase in number example: keloid scarring. Over produce of cells
Metaplasia
,Mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type example: GERD
Apoptosis
programmed cell death
Acidosis
excessive acidity of body fluids, pH below 7.35
alkalosis
pH above 7.45
intracellular fluid
fluid within cells
extracellular fluid
fluid outside the cell
intravascular fluid
fluid within blood vessels
interstitial fluid
fluid between cells example: edema
, edema
puffy swelling of tissue from the accumulation of fluid lack of albumin
Osmosis
Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
Diffusion
Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration.
Dehydration
Thirst is a late sign of
thirst mechanism
osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus
antidiuretic hormone (ADH)