Pathophysiology of Diseases

The student will explore how changes in homeostatic mechanisms will disrupt the human body and cause diseases. Mechanisms of disease will be studied in each system and will be examined for the effect that they produce on the structure and function of the body. Mainly we focus on common diseases in the course. This course relates the knowledge of anatomy and physiology to the disruptions in homeostasis resulting in a disorder or disease process. Objective and subjective manifestations of common health problems resulting from environmental, genetic, and stress-related maladaptations will be assessed and analyzed. This course will not offer any therapeutic or treatment strategy for the diseases discussed in the lessons.

** It is highly recommended that learners enroll in this course have some previous knowledge of the human body system or anatomy & physiology.**

By this course, learners will demonstrate an understanding of the types and mechanisms of diseases in the major human body systems. The course includes the following topics: 

Week One:
Diseases & Disorders of Skeletal System - A number of disorders affect the skeletal system, including bone cancer, bone density, bone infections, osteogenesis, osteoporosis, Paget's disease of bone, and rickets. However, the two most common disorders of the skeletal system are osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Learners distinguish between the features of lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis, and differentiate between a strain and a sprain.

Diseases & Disorders of the Muscular System - Primary muscle diseases result from abnormalities of the muscles themselves. Secondary muscle diseases are caused by another condition that may have triggered or caused the muscle disease. The course includes the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and myopathy.

Week Two:
Diseases and Conditions of the Circulatory System - Here we see the difference between myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, explain what happens when the pumping action of the heart fails, and compare arteriosclerosis with atherosclerosis.

Diseases and Conditions of the Endocrine System - This lesson describe the importance of hormones and explain some of the critical body functions that they control, compares gigantism to acromegaly, and classifies the two major types of diabetes mellitus.

Week Three:
Diseases & Disorders of Urinary System - Examples of urinary disorders include cancers of the urinary tract, incontinence, interstitial cystitis, kidney stones, kidney failure, and urinary tract infections.

Diseases and Conditions of the Respiratory System - The lesson explains the process of respiration, discusses the causes and medical treatment for the common cold, sinusitis, and pharyngitis.

Week Four:
Diseases and Conditions of the Digestive System - we discuss the importance of normal teeth and a normal bite, compare the causes of herpes simplex to the cause of thrush, distinguish between the patient with anorexia and the patient with bulimia, describe a hiatal hernia, and distinguish among the types of abdominal hernias.

Neurologic Diseases and Conditions - The problems to which the nervous system is susceptible will be discussed. Cases such as Chronic Degenerative Disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Multiple sclerosis...etc), Movement Disorders, Infectious Disorders, will be studied. The common symptoms and signs of a CVA will be determined. Diseases such as transient ischemic attacks will be identified.