Pathological
Pathological
Pathological (/pæθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/), derived from the Greek words "pathos" meaning "suffering" and "logos" meaning "study of", is a term used in medicine to describe a condition that is severe, significantly abnormal, or indicative of a disease.
Definition
In the field of medicine, pathological refers to conditions and behaviors that are abnormal or harmful to the body or mind. It is often used to describe a disease or a condition that is caused by a disease. For example, a pathological fracture is a break in a bone that is caused by a disease or condition, such as osteoporosis or cancer, that weakens the bone.
Related Terms
- Pathology: The scientific study of disease processes; also, a branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.
- Pathologist: A medical professional who studies the causes and nature of diseases.
- Pathogenesis: The origination and development of a disease.
- Pathophysiology: The functional changes that accompany a particular syndrome or disease.
- Pathognomonic: Specifically distinctive or characteristic of a disease or pathologic condition; a sign or symptom on which a diagnosis can be made.
Etymology
The term "pathological" comes from the Greek words "pathos" meaning "suffering" and "logos" meaning "study of". It was first used in English in the 1650s to describe a condition that is caused by a disease, in contrast to a physiological condition, which is caused by normal bodily functions.
Pronunciation
Pathological is pronounced as /pæθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pathological
- Wikipedia's article - Pathological
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