Cardiovascular Week 1

Cardiovascular - Week 1

• Aneurysm: A localized outpouching or dilation of a weakened vessel wall, resulting from conditions like atherosclerosis, congenital abnormalities, loss of elastin/collagen, or trauma. Common locations include the abdominal aorta (between renal arteries and iliac branches), thoracic aorta, cerebral arteries, and femoral/popliteal arteries.

• Cardiac shunt: An abnormal pathway allowing blood flow differently than normal, between heart chambers or blood vessels. Blood flows from high-pressure to low-pressure areas or high-resistance to low-resistance regions.

• Embolus: A substance circulating in the bloodstream from one location to another. Examples include blood clots, tissue fragments, air bubbles, amniotic fluid, fat, bacteria, tumor cells, or foreign substances.

• Stenosis: Narrowing of a blood vessel or heart valve. Symptoms include ischemia (reduced blood supply), abnormal function of tissues or organs, tissue death, and/or buildup of blood pressure in the chamber before the valve. Left-side valve stenosis can lead to lung problems and right-side valve stenosis can cause fluid buildup in the body.

Respiratory - Week 2

• Atelectasis: Partial or complete collapse of a lung. Occurs when alveolar sacs or segments fail to fully expand, often after surgery.

• Bronchiectasis: Chronic abnormal dilation of bronchi with bronchial wall destruction throughout the tracheobronchial tree. Types include cylindrical, fusiform, and saccular. Conditions associated with repeated damage to bronchial walls with abnormal mucus clearance causes the condition.

• Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes caused by reduced oxygenation in the blood.

Respiratory - Week 2

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema leading to rapid respiratory failure. Also known as shock lung, stiff lung, or white lung.

• Asthma: A chronic inflammation of the airways, characterized by airflow obstruction and airway hyperreactivity to stimuli.

• Chronic bronchitis: Excessive production of tracheobronchial mucus, chronic cough, and airflow obstruction.

• Chronic hypoxia: Insufficient oxygen supply over a prolonged duration. Causes include high levels of red blood cells (polycythemia), resulting from the kidneys producing more erythropoietin to compensate for the low oxygen.

• Cor pulmonale: Right heart enlargement due to high blood pressure in the lungs, often caused by chronic hypoxia- related lung disease.

Cardiovascular - Week 3

• Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Disease of heart muscle fibers causing potential irreversible damage if severe.

• Heart Failure: Inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. Causes include volume overload and poor tissue perfusion.

• Hypertension: Elevated blood pressure, classified as essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension is elevated blood pressure without a readily apparent cause, whereas secondary hypertension has an identifiable cause.

• Hyperlipidemia: Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (primary or secondary).

• Myocarditis: Inflammation of the myocardium (heart muscle), which can be acute or chronic.

• Mitral insufficiency: Inadequate closure of the mitral valve, resulting in backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium

• Mitral stenosis: Narrowing of the mitral valve orifice, often due to thickening and calcification of the valve leaflets.

• Mitral prolapse: Improper closure of the mitral valve, with the valve leaflets bulging backward.

Integumentary - Week 10

• Primary lesions: Skin markings that appear on previously healthy areas in response to disease or irritation. Includes macules, papules, plaques, nodules, tumors, wheals, comedones, cysts, vesicles, pustules, and bullae.

• Secondary lesions: Modified lesions arising from the healing or evolution of primary lesions. Examples include scales, erosion, ulcers, lichenification, and scars.

Other Topics - Various Weeks

• Endocarditis: Infection of the endocardium, heart valves, or prosthetic heart valves from bacterial or fungal invasion.

• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the outer lining of the heart, can be acute or chronic. Types of pericarditis include acute pericarditis, with or without exudate (pus), and chronic constrictive pericarditis, with fibrous thickening.

• Beck triad: Includes hypotension, jugular venous distension, and muffled heart sounds.

• Cardiogenic shock: Diminished cardiac output resulting in poor tissue perfusion.

• Hypovolemic shock: Circulatory dysfunction due to decreased intravascular blood volume.

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): Arteriosclerotic plaque obstructs blood flow to the leg.

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clot formation in a deep vein, often in the leg, that can potentially travel to the lungs.

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM): Thickening of the intraventricular septum and decreased chamber size.

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Inflammation and clot formation in a deep vein, typically in the leg. Can lead to pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs.

• Hypovolemic shock: Reduced intravascular blood volume causing circulatory dysfunction and inadequate tissue perfusion.

• Pulmonary hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, can be primary (with no obvious cause) or secondary to another condition.

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): A life-threatening viral infection, although not highly contagious with appropriate protection.

• Tuberculosis (TB): A lung infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, characterized by tissue damage and necrosis.

• Pneumothorax: Air in the pleural cavity causing partial or complete lung collapse, can be traumatic (from injury) or spontaneous (no obvious cause).

• Pulmonary edema: Fluid buildup in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs, typically due to cardiovascular issues.

• Hepatitis: Liver inflammation.

• Nonviral hepatitis: Liver inflammation caused by exposure to chemicals or drugs, often fully recovering.

• Viral hepatitis: Liver inflammation due to viral infection. Differentiated by the causative virus (Type A, B, C, D, or E).

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A mild condition of the intestines without any anatomical abnormalities or inflammatory components.

• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which can be acute or chronic.

• Peptic ulcer disease: Open lesions in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.

• Esophageal varices: Swollen, twisted varicose veins in the lower esophagus or gastrointestinal tract.

• Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to gallstones in the cystic duct obstructing bile flow, can be acute or chronic.

• Intestinal obstruction: Partial or complete blockage of the intestines, often due to postoperative adhesions or congenital issues.

• Ulcerative colitis: Inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon and rectum, often starting in the rectum and sigmoid colon.

• Myxedema: Skin changes occurring in hypothyroidism (often in Graves' disease).

• Myxedema coma: Severe hypothyroidism requiring immediate medical attention.

• Rhabdomyolysis: Rapid breakdown of muscle fibers, potentially causing kidney failure if untreated.

• Myoglobin: Protein found in muscle tissue that can cause kidney problems if released into the bloodstream in large amounts.

• Osteosarcoma: Aggressive malignant bone tumor, often occurring in long bones near growth plates of adolescents.

• Osteonecrosis of the jaw: Progressive bone destruction in the jaw resulting from certain medications.

• RBC deficiency (anemia): Reduced production or destruction of red blood cells, causing low red blood cell count and potential hypoxia.

• RBC excess (polycythemia): Increased production of red blood cells.

• WBC deficiency (leukopenia): Reduced production of white blood cells, increasing risk of infection.

• WBC excess (leukocytosis): Increased production of white blood cells in response to infection or inflammation.

• Anemia, folic acid deficiency: Common, slowly progressive anemia caused by vitamin B9 (folic acid) deficiency.

• Anemia, pernicious: Common type of megaloblastic anemia due to the lack of intrinsic factor, which is needed for vitamin B12 absorption.

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): Widespread blood clotting throughout the body, using clotting factors and platelets, resulting in multiple organ damage if untreated.

• Hodgkin's disease (lymphoma): Malignant lymphoma that arises from a group of lymph nodes or a single node in the body, with a good prognosis if treated early.

• Thalassemia: A hereditary group of hemolytic anemias, characterized by reduced healthy red blood cell formation.

• Sickle Cell Disease: A genetic disorder causing abnormal hemoglobin, leading to deformed red blood cells, potential pain crises, and potentially fatal life complications without appropriate care and management.

• Malaria: Infecting RBCs and rearranging the content. Parasite triggers sickle cell hemoglobin to sickle => immune system clears infected RBCs => fewer parasites.

• Immunological Issues: Includes topics like humoral immunity (B-cell immunity), cell-mediated immunity (T-cell immunity), autoimmune reactions, and hypersensitivity reactions.

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema): Chronic skin condition with superficial skin inflammation & itching, usually apparent in infants & children.

• Allergic rhinitis: Inflammation of nasal mucous membrane producing reaction to airborne allergens.

• Anaphylaxis: Potentially life-threatening reaction, marked by rapid onset urticaria (skin rash) & respiratory distress.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: Chronic inflammatory disease of connective tissues affecting multiple organs, characteristic of type 3 hypersensitivity reactions with flare-ups and remissions.

• Ankylosis spondylitis: Autoimmune, chronic, progressive inflammatory bone disease primarily affecting sacral-iliac, apophyseal, and costovertebral joints.

• Avascular necrosis: Death of bone tissue, often painful, due to insufficient blood supply.

• Gaucher disease: Genetic metabolic disorder causing Gaucher cells to build up in organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

• Lyme disease: Multi-system disorder, caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted through deer ticks; three stages with early localized stage, early disseminated stage, and late stage, presenting with distinct signs and symptoms.

• Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord), typically from bacterial infection; can be acute or chronic.

• Migraine headache: Throbbing, vascular (pounding) headache, classified as "with aura" or "without aura", often appearing in childhood and presenting throughout adulthood.

• Multiple sclerosis (MS): Chronic disease that causes demyelination of neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, with periods of exacerbation and remission; causes severe disability in young adults to 40s.

• Myasthenia gravis (MG): Immune system attacks neuromuscular junctions, preventing muscle contraction; progressive weakening of skeletal muscles.

• Malignant melanoma: Skin cancer arising from melanocytes, which can be characterized by skin lesion enlargement, color changes, and other symptoms.

• Psoriasis: Chronic recurrent skin disease, characterized by epidermal proliferation, partially remitting (decreasing, reducing) and exacerbating.

• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): Invasive tumor arising from keratinizing epidermal cells of the skin. Occurring most in white males over 60 years old, often in warm climates; potentially metastatic.

• Pressure ulcer (bedsore): Localized areas of cellular necrosis in areas of bony prominences from prolonged pressure, potentially related to prolonged inactivity or impaired circulation. Deep wounds can affect underlying tissues and often result in severe issues.

• Thyroid cancer: Cancer originating in the thyroid gland, often classified as papillary, follicular, medullary, or anaplastic; can be a result of exposure to radiation.

• Buffalo bump (lipodystrophy): Fat accumulation in the back or shoulders caused by dysregulation of body fat metabolism in some endocrine disorders.

• Addison's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency): Adrenal glands fail to produce adequate cortisol and aldosterone.

• Renal calculi (stones): Stones that form in the urinary tract, commonly in the renal pelvis or calyx, composed of varying minerals or salts.

• Renal Failure: Final stages of gradual loss of kidney function often resulting from sudden or prolonged kidney damage; characterized by gradual or rapid loss of glomerular filtration.

• Glomerulonephritis: Bilateral inflammation of glomeruli, most often following a streptococcal infection, marked by various symptoms including impaired glomerular filtration.

• Hydronephrosis: Abnormal dilation of the renal pelvis in response to urine accumulation in the kidneys due to obstruction in the urinary tract, causing swelling.

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): Disorder characterized by multiple bilateral grapelike clusters of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys.

• Pyelonephritis: Inflammation of the renal interstitial area and renal pelvis, often caused by bacterial infection, with or without related edema or swelling of the surrounding regions.

• Cerebral edema: Increased water content in the brain tissue, usually resulting from initial injury to brain tissue, cerebral ischemia, low oxygen levels, or excess carbon dioxide. Often causes numerous symptoms including those relating to the brain.

• Paresis: Partial loss of motor function, commonly caused by paralysis of functional muscle fibers.

• Dementia: Loss of intellectual or cognitive functions, including memory, reasoning, and judgment.

• Seizure disorder (epilepsy): Recurrent episodes of abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, causing various symptoms including seizures.

• Stroke: Sudden interruption of cerebral circulation, classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic.

• West Nile Encephalitis: A vector-borne infectious disease (transmitted by insects) causing inflammation of the brain.

• Diabetes Insipidus: Disorder related to water metabolism, causing issues or abnormalities with antidiuretic/antidiuretic hormones.

• Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, classified into Type 1 (absolute insulin insufficiency) and Type 2 (insulin resistance).

• Hyperthyroidism: Excessive thyroid hormone production, typically caused by Graves' disease, characterized by various symptoms, including elevated metabolic rate, and increased heart rate among others.

• Hypothyroidism: Deficient production of thyroid hormones, frequently marked by a lowered metabolic rate.

• Myxedema: Accumulations of mucopolysaccharides in the skin/tissues, resulting in swelling of affected areas. Can also be associated with hypothyroidism.

• Rhabdomyolysis: Rapid breakdown of muscle fibers, with potential kidney damage from released myoglobin.

• Osteoporosis: Metabolic bone disease in which bone resorption is faster than bone formation, leading to loss of bone mass, and potentially leading to fractures in the future.

• Osteomyelitis: Infection of the bone often resulting from infection elsewhere or from skin trauma.

• Herpes Zoster/Shingles: Acute inflammation occurring from the varicella-zoster virus that often causes localized skin lesions and nerve related pain (neuralgia).

• Malignant Melanoma: Skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, which can potentially spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

• Psoriasis: Chronic recurring inflammatory skin disease, characterized by epidermal proliferation.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancers that affect the epithelial cells of the epidermis, these often occur as a result of abnormal cell growth and division of keratin producing cells in the skin.

• Pressure ulcers (sores, bedsores): Localized areas of cellular necrosis, often in bony prominences, due to prolonged pressure and related circulatory issues.

• Gaucher's Disease: Genetic disorder leading to accumulation of glucocerebroside, causing issues in organs like the spleen, and liver among others.

• Atopic dermatitis (Eczema): Chronic skin disorder, characterized by superficial skin inflammation and intense itching, often appearing during infancy or early childhood and is marked by periods of exacerbation and periods of remission.

• Contact dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin usually in the form of a rash from contact with a chemical or allergen.