Pathology Basics
What is pathology?
Disease
Which chamber of the heart has the thickest walls?
Left ventricle
Where does gas exchange happen?
Alveoli
What does the nervous system control?
Movement, sensation, thought, and automatic functions like breathing and heart rate
Which organ absorbs most nutrients?
Small intestine
What is hypoxia?
Lack of oxygen to cells
What is the silent killer disease?
Hypertension
What triggers asthma?
Allergens, cold air, or exercise
What part of the brain is most affected in Alzheimer's?
Memory related areas
What does the stomach produce to help digestion?
Acid - HCl
Which type of cell death involves inflammation?
Necrosis
Name two symptoms of a heart attack.
Any two of: chest pressure, jaw pain, arm pain, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath
Name two risk factors for pulmonary embolism.
Any two of: recent surgery, prolonged immobility, prior clots
What causes a seizure?
Abnormal excessive electrical activity in the brain
What causes appendicitis?
The appendix gets blocked leading to inflammation and infection
Give an example of etiology
ex: high cholesterol
What is the underlying cause of most heart attacks and strokes?
Atherosclerosis
What is a normal pulse oximetry reading?
95 to 100 percent
What does the FAST acronym stand for?
Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911 — used to identify stroke
What is the role of villi in the small intestine?
Increase surface area to maximize nutrient absorption
What are the four causes of cell injury?
Lack of oxygen, toxins, infection, immune system dysfunction
What is the electrical problem in arrhythmia?
Disrupted electrical signals
What is the difference between how pneumonia and emphysema damage the lungs?
Pneumonia fills alveoli with fluid, emphysema destroys alveolar walls
Why does the location of a spinal cord injury matter?
Everything below the injury loses function
What happens to the body if the digestive system cannot absorb nutrients properly?
Cells cannot produce energy, leading to organ failure