The study of the disordered physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with a disease or injury. It explains how normal body functions become disrupted in disease states.
Combining Greek 'pathos' (suffering/disease), 'physis' (nature), and 'logos' (study). The term emerged in the early 20th century as medicine moved beyond just describing diseases to understanding the underlying mechanisms of how diseases disrupt normal body function.
Pathophysiology is like studying a broken machine - instead of just knowing that the car won't start, you understand exactly which parts failed and how that failure cascades through the whole system! It's the bridge between normal body function and disease symptoms.
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