Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size. Caused by increased workload; seen in heart disease and weightlifting/exercise.

Atrophy / Hypotrophy

Decrease in cell size and functional tissue mass. Associated with gas-related causes and cellular stress.

Dysplasia

Deranged cell growth resulting in varied size, shape, and organization.

Apoptosis

Programmed, selective cell death.

Lead Poisoning

Environmental exposure causing gas-related cellular changes, lead poisoning toxicity, and disruption of cell function.

Fracture Blisters

Caused by severe swelling and pressure following musculoskeletal trauma.

Primary Intention

Healing of clean wounds with well-approximated edges.

Secondary Intention

Healing of open wounds with tissue loss, forming granulation tissue and larger scars.

Outward Signs of Inflammation

Redness and swelling.

Serous Drainage

Clear, watery fluid.

Neutrophils

First responders to acute bacterial infection; perform phagocytosis.

Neutrophil Blasts

Immature forms; ALWAYS abnormal in circulating peripheral blood.

Monocytes / Macrophages

Clean up dead cells and cellular debris ('garbage trucks').

Eosinophils

Active in allergic responses and parasitic infections.

Basophils

Release histamine during allergic and inflammatory responses.

Lymphocytes

B-cells and T-cells mediating specific adaptive immunity.

Benign Tumor

Well-differentiated, slow-growing, encapsulated, non-invasive; does not metastasize.

Malignant Tumor

Poorly differentiated, fast-growing, unencapsulated, invasive; metastasizes.

Primary Cancer

Tumor located at the original tissue site of origin.

Metastatic Cancer

Cancer that has spread to distant body sites.

Cancer Staging

Evaluates tumor size, lymph node involvement, and distant spread (TNM staging) across various stages of malignant disease.

Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmune beta-cell destruction causing absolute insulin deficiency. Manifestations: Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss.

Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistance combined with relative insulin deficiency. Risk Factors: Obesity, inactivity, genetics.

Metabolic Syndrome

Cluster of risk factors including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose, and dyslipidemia.

Neutropenia

Low neutrophil count; leads to severe infection risks and fever.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Depleted iron stores prevent hemoglobin synthesis. Signs: Fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath.

Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickling of RBCs causing vaso-occlusive pain crises.

Polycythemia

Abnormally high RBC mass.

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelets; causes petechiae, purpura, and bleeding.

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Marked by Reed-Sternberg cells; orderly spread along contiguous lymph nodes.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Lacks Reed-Sternberg cells; non-contiguous spread.

Congestive Heart Failure

Inability of the heart to pump effectively; causes fluid overload and dyspnea.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Coronary occlusion causing ischemia/necrosis. Signs: Crushing chest pain radiating to jaw/arm, dyspnea, diaphoresis.

MONA protocol

Care protocol for acute coronary syndrome.

Oxygen Transport & Gas Exchange

Occurs across alveoli walls.

Type I Alveolar Cells

Provide thin structural wall.

Type II Alveolar Cells

Produce surfactant to reduce surface tension and prevent alveolar collapse.

Respiratory Defense Mechanisms

Mucociliary escalator, cough reflex, and alveolar macrophages.

Non-Cardiac Chest Pain

Pleuritic chest pain caused by respiratory or musculoskeletal origin.

Tuberculosis

M. tuberculosis infection; causes night sweats, low-grade fever, weight loss, and cough.

Influenza

Acute viral respiratory infection; causes sudden fever, myalgia, and cough.

COPD

Emphysema vs. Chronic Bronchitis.

Pneumonia

Exudative consolidation of lung tissue.

Pneumothorax

Air in pleural space; Tension Pneumothorax features trapped air, absent breath sounds, and a mediastinal shift.

Rhinosinusitis

Sinus drainage obstruction.

Cystitis / UTI

Bacterial bladder infection (E. coli); signs include dysuria, frequency, urgency, suprapubic pain.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Rapid GFR decline; categories include prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Progressive GFR loss; features uremia, fluid overload, hyperkalemia, and anemia.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Flora imbalance; thin discharge with fishy odor.

Condylomata (Genital Warts)

Caused by HPV; associated with cervical cancer; prevented by HPV vaccine.

Genital Herpes

HSV-2; painful blisters/ulcers, dormant in nerve ganglia.

Gonorrhea

N. gonorrhoeae; creamy yellow discharge, dysuria.

Candidiasis

Yeast infection; thick white curdy discharge, intense itching.

Syphilis

T. pallidum; primary chancre, secondary palm/sole rash, tertiary gummas.

Testicular Torsion

Surgical emergency from twisted spermatic cord; severe sudden scrotal pain.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Ascending infection causing lower abdominal pain and cervical motion tenderness.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Prostate enlargement compressing periurethral space; signs include weak stream, hesitancy, post-void dribbling, nocturia.

Crohn's Disease

Any part of GI tract; transmural, skip lesions, cobblestone mucosa, RLQ pain.

Ulcerative Colitis

Limited to colon and rectum; continuous mucosal inflammation, severe bloody/mucus diarrhea.

Diverticulitis

Inflamed outpouchings trapped with bacteria; signs include LLQ pain, fever, leukocytosis.

Appendicitis

Appendix inflammation; signs include periumbilical pain migrating to McBurney's point, rebound tenderness.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of pancreas; signs include severe upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.

GERD

Reflux of gastric acid into esophagus; teaching includes avoiding large/fatty meals, sitting upright after eating.

Cirrhosis & Liver Failure

Scar tissue replaces liver tissue, causing portal hypertension; signs include ascites, esophageal varices, jaundice.

Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)

RUQ pain radiating to right shoulder, worsened by high-fat foods.

Hernias

Protrusion of tissue; sliding vs. paraesophageal (medical emergency).

Osteopenia

Bone mass loss greater than expected for age.

Osteoporosis

Loss of bone mass and strength; risk factors include alcohol, corticosteroids, low calcium, low estrogen, smoking, sedentary lifestyle.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Autoimmune condition characterized by pannus formation and symmetric joint pain.

Osteoarthritis

Degenerative condition characterized by loss of cartilage and bone spurs.

Gout Syndrome

Uric acid crystal deposition in joints; causes severe pain and tophi deposits.

Fracture Identification

Types include transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted, segmental, butterfly, greenstick, impacted, compound, compression, pathologic, and stress.

Compartment Syndrome

Swelling in enclosed compartment cuts off blood supply; RED ALERT includes pain out of proportion to injury.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Includes strain (muscle/tendon unit), sprain (ligament), contusion/hematoma (bruise).

Scoliosis

Lateral deviation of spine; can be nonstructural or structural.

Tinea Corporis

Fungal ringworm infection of the body.

Tinea Capitis

Fungal ringworm infection of the scalp.

Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

Parasitic infestation of scalp hair.