PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 1: INTRODUCTION

What is pathophysiology?
 A science that studies the characteristics and mechanisms of disease’s initiation,
progression and outcome
 Pathophysiology deals with diseases
o Diseases: an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily function
o Includes: injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated
symptoms, deviant behaviours and atypical variations of structure and function

Homeostasis
 It is the maintenance of stable internal environment in a dynamic state of equilibrium.
 Homeostasis must be maintained for normal body function and to sustain life
(physiology)
 Hemostatic imbalance: a disturbance in homeostasis resulting in disease
(pathophysiology)

Relation of pathophysiology to other medical sciences

 Pathophysiology: abnormal function of body
 Physiology: normal function of body
 Pathology: abnormal structure of body

Pathophysiology
 Involves functional, morphological, metabolic disorders and their mechanisms
 Affects molecules  cells  organs  body

Animal models
 Experimental animal models, spontaneous animal models
 Why animal models?
o Controllable: Conditions can be controlled
o Availability: Select species that are close to our own
o Convenience: Easy to harvest information from these animals
o Ethical consideration: Using human is difficult because it may not give conclusive
results due to age, gender, genetic make-up and ethics