Mechanisms of Disease

Reading:

Porth, C.M. (2007)  Essentials of Pathophysiology:  selected portions of the text introduction and Chapters 1-5 and 12.

Purposes:

Define pathophysiology and related terms (disease, normalcy, etiology, pathogenesis, manifestations of disease, symptoms, signs, lesion, sequel, complication, resolution)

Review your knowledge of the cell, its structure and function, mechanisms of transport across the cell membrane, cell reproduction (mitosis and meiosis) and genetics.

Review your knowledge of body fluid compartments, fluids and electrolytes

Understand mechanisms of cell and tissue injury

Compare growth and differentiation abnormalities

Reading Guide:

For each module, there are usually a number of chapters to read or skim.  In the written syllabus, you're often provided with specific page numbers for reference, so that makes it easier to find important information.  Obviously, some of the material is more important than other material.  The review exercises at the end of each text chapter are helpful.  Also, for each module, review the study questions toward the bottom of the page in each online module, as these are a clue to the depth and breadth of information that is generally tested on the exams.  Note that the best guide for studying for the exam is the written syllabus that you purchased from the bookstore!  Remember, I'm just a phone call or e-mail away, so when in doubt, ask!!

Review the textbook website at http://thePoint.LWW.com/PorthEssentials for links to chapter-related resources with animations and chapter review questions.

Terminology:

The boxes below contain terminology you should review. Click on those that are underlined for links to the web that provide more information or helpful diagrams.  Again, in addition to the end-of-chapter questions above, you may want to answer the study questions below to test your own knowledge about the terminology, rather than just trying to memorize information about terms. Two great resources on the Web for many content areas are the Merck Manual and the Merck Manual Home Edition.

Study Questions:

These questions are to guide your thinking in addition to the end-of-chapter questions.

1. How is pathophysiology different from pathology?
2. What is the difference between signs and symptoms? List several of each category.
3. What are the various cell organelles and what are their functions?
4. How do you compare diffusion and osmosis? Which refers to solutes and which to water? How are the processes very similar?
5. What are the major body fluid compartments and what percent of body weight do each of them represent?
6. What are reactive oxygen species (free radicals)?  What is oxidative injury?
7. What are the major electrolytes (anions and cations) in the intracellular fluid compartment? In the extracellular fluid compartment?
8. What is the most common single cause of cellular injury (choose from chemical injury, hypoxia, infectious injury, genetic injury, physical injury, nutritional imbalance)
9. What is the difference between exotoxins and endotoxins? From what kind of organism do both of these come?
10. What is the difference between a disease or defect that is congenital and one that is hereditary? Which of the two is not necessarily genetically determined?
11. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
12. Why do conditions that are determined by X-linked recessive genes most often affect males? What happens if a father affected with a trait (disease) caused by X-linked gene mates with a normal mother? What is the chance that a son or a daughter of this union would have the disease? What happens if you mate a carrier mother with a normal father (the usual situation in X-linked recessive disorders)?
13. Name several growth abnormalities and several differentiation abnormalities.
14. What is the difference between congestion and edema? Which is sometimes also called hyperemia?
15. What is the difference between an exudate and a transudate? Which has proteins in it and is thus able to clot?
16. What are three factors that might lead to thrombus formation?
17. Describe some of the degenerative changes that occur in the cytoplasm with cellular injury.
18. What are some of the different kinds of necrosis that are seen in various tissues (name four: the kind seen usually in deprivation of blood supply, in an area of necrotic brain, in TB lesions, and in an internal area that has superimposed growth of saprophytic bacteria).
19. What is the difference between necrosis and apoptosis? 

Exercises:

Now test out your knowledge with the exercises below. The first exercise is not for extra credit, but the second one (Module 1 Exercise) is.

A. Complete the table with regard to characteristics of benign and malignant neoplasms by typing in the appropriate word, i.e. "benign" or "malignant". Please be careful not to type in any space before or after the word.

B. Go to Module 1 Exercise. This Exercise is in Angel.  Below is the page for logging in to Angel using your Groupwise name and password.

1) Click on the Module 1 Exercise link above or go to Angel.

2)  Login with your GroupWise username and password.

3) Once in Angel, select NURS 320 - Alterations in Physiological Functioning.

4) Once inside the course, select Lessons from the left side menu and go to Module 1.  You'll see the exercise site and the discussion group link both under Module 1. 

Discussion Group:

The discussion group deadline for this module is midnight, Sunday, Sept. 17th. 

REMEMBER: Staying on schedule is important! Your target date for completing this first module is Aug. 25th.   The exam covering this material will be on Sept. 21, 2006, from 3-5 p.m. in 1050 SON.  When you've finished the material in this module, go right on to Module 2. 

Anita Wingate, University of Kansas School of Nursing, August 2006