Pathophysiology 598302 223341667 2008-07-03T17:32:17Z Vedran12 7322109 interwiki hr '''Pathophysiology''' is the study of the disturbance of normal [[mechanical]], [[physical]], and [[biochemical]] functions, either caused by a [[disease]], or resulting from a disease or abnormal syndrome, or condition that may not qualify to be called a disease. An alternate definition is "the study of the [[biological]] and physical manifestations of disease as they correlate with the underlying abnormalities and [[physiological]] disturbances."<ref>Craig Scanlon, Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy, St. Louis, 1999, p. 1186.</ref> ==Related fields== Pathophysiology can be looked at as the intersection of two older, related disciplines: (normal) [[physiology]] and [[pathology]]. * [[Physiology]] is the study of normal, healthy [[bodily function]] (as opposed to [[anatomy]], which is the study of normal [[structure]]). When something disrupts normal [[physiological]] processes, it enters the realm of [[pathophysiology]]. * [[Pathology]], broadly speaking, is the "study of the nature and cause of disease."<ref>Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Clayton Thomas, Philadelphia, 1993, p. 1445.</ref> or the results of disease in the body. Pathophysiology looks at the detailed [[malfunctioning]] that comes from or - alternately - causes disease. One caution in this [[approach]] is that "healthy" [[structure]] and [[function]] is not precisely the same in any two individuals. ==Examples== An example from the field of [[infectious disease]] would be the study of a [[toxin]] released by a [[bacterium]], and what that toxin does to the body to cause harm, one possible result being [[sepsis]]. Another example is the study of the [[chemical]] changes that take place in [[body tissue]] due to [[inflammation]]. ==Uses== Pathophysiology is a required study for most [[nursing school]] programs in the United States as well as other countries. ==See also== *[[Pathology]] ==References== {{reflist}} *Kumar, V., Abbas, A. and N. Fausto. 2004. ''Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.'' Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company [[Category:Pathology]] [[Category:Physiology]] {{pathology-stub}} [[de:Pathophysiologie]] [[es:Fisiopatología]] [[hr:Patofiziologija]] [[pl:Fizjologia patologiczna]] [[ru:Патологическая физиология]] [[sq:Fiziologjia patologjike]] [[sv:Patofysiologi]] [[zh:病理生理学]] ==External Links== *[http://www.minnay.com/products/pathophys_index.html Pathophysiology Resources]