Pathological process is ... Pathological process in the body: definition, stages and features

Health is an important value of life. Only thanks to complete physical and mental well-being a person can achieve the set goals, be really happy, experience the joy of communicating with the world. Unfortunately, not always health is normal. It worsens because of the pathological processes taking place in the body.

Explanation of the term

The pathological process is the sequence of various reactions arising naturally in the human body, manifested as functional, metabolic and morphological disorders. They appear in response to the damaging effect of any pathogenic factor.

Pathological processes are divided into 2 types: local (they are characterized by direct contact of the pathogenic factor with tissues) and generalized (they occur in the human body, regardless of the area affected by pathogenic factors). The latter progress in accordance with 3 phases:

• During the first phase, the pathogenic factor from the place of inoculation penetrates into the human body;
• During the second phase, the pathogenic factor is concentrated in organs and tissues;
• During the third phase, called toxicodynamic, the functioning of organs and tissues of the human body develops.

Characteristics of pathological processes

Reactions of the body that arise in response to the influence of any factors and causing a violation of the normal course of life processes, have certain characteristics. They include:

• Universality;
• Autochthonism;
• Stereotype.

The totality of processes or a certain pathological process is that which underlies absolutely any disease. This is why a characteristic such as universality is used with respect to reactions. Another pathological process inherent autochthonism. This term indicates the ability of the pathological process to develop, regardless of whether the causative factor is acting. Also used is a characterization such as stereotype. It means that the pathological process has certain features. They do not change because of the reasons that caused the process, or the location of its localization.

Difference of pathological process from disease

Many people consider synonymous terms as "illness" and "pathological process". This is not really the case. Here are the main differences between the concepts:

1. The disease develops because of a certain cause. For the pathological process, this is not typical. It can be caused by various reasons.
2. In case of illness, the adaptability of the organism decreases and the working capacity worsens. For the pathological process, these changes may not be characteristic.
3. For the disease is often characterized by a combination of various pathological processes.
4. The pathological process can take place in different parts of the body. Because of this, clinical patterns of diseases change.

Stages inherent in the pathological process

Every person is constantly influenced by various pathogenic factors of the environment (biological, physical, etc.). Some of them are neutralized by the protective forces of the body. Those factors that can not be overcome cause a pathological process.

The organism's reactions are inherent in progression, therefore, the following stages of the pathological process can be conventionally identified:

• Occurrence;
• development;
• Exodus.

The first stage

The appearance of any reaction of the organism is explained by the action of a particular stimulus. The appearance of suspicious symptoms in a person depends on the following factors:

• Force of impact;
• Frequency and duration of irritant action;
• Individual reaction of the human body.

A pathological process is something that can begin in the human body due to the ingress of pathogens or the mechanical action of a large force. However, the influence of a group of factors is most often observed.

The second stage

Each pathological process has its own specifics in progression. Despite this, it is possible to single out the general principles by which development takes place:

1. Vicious circles. This principle means that the pathological process is completed. However, the result re-activates or reinforces one of the preceding links. Because of this, the pathological process starts again and repeats until the circle opens.
2. Transition of protective reactions to pathogenetic. Some sanogenetic mechanisms carry a serious threat to the body. For example, the immune system protects a person from pathogenic microorganisms. However, in some cases, immunity begins to act against its own cells and tissues (a similar pathological process occurs with allergies, autoimmune processes).
3. Pathological dominant. Before deciphering this principle, it is necessary to define the term "physiological dominant". This is the moment when the performance of a certain function becomes more important than the performance of other functions (that is, a temporarily dominant focus of excitement appears in the central nervous system, giving a certain direction to human behavior). In some diseases, a pathological dominant is formed. It becomes the center of self-maintenance and progression of the current state.

The third stage

In the developing pathological process, effective sanogenetic (protective) mechanisms can interfere . In this case, the outcome is, as a rule, recovery, restoration of the initial state. If the defenses of the body do not cope, then as a result of the pathological process, the disease develops.

Each ailment occurs within a certain time. Acute illnesses last about 4 days, acute - from 5 to 14 days, subacute - from 15 to 40 days. After the disease, either recovery occurs, or a transition to a chronic form and development of complications, or a lethal outcome.

What can be attributed to pathological processes

Pathological processes in the body can be as follows:

• inflammation;
• Hypoxia;
• fever;
• Swelling, etc.

The most striking example is a pathological inflammatory process. With it, a protective and adaptive reaction to the elimination of the pathogenic factor begins to act in the human body. Inflammation provokes a change in normal circulation, an increase in vascular permeability. There are such clinical symptoms as local fever, redness, pain.

This pathological process, like hypoxia, means oxygen deficiency. It is inherent in various conditions and diseases. For example, at the end of any fatal illness, regardless of the causes that caused it, acute oxygen deficiency occurs. Dying is always accompanied by total hypoxia, provoking irreversible changes in the human body.

A fever is often observed. This is a pathological process, which is characterized by a temporary increase in body temperature. Other phenomena associated with infectious pathologies (for example, heat attacks) also occur in it.

Another example of a pathological process is a tumor. It is a neoplasm that appears when tissues proliferate with atypical cells. Tumors are polyethiologic. This means that they arise because of the influence of various factors of physical, chemical, biological nature.

In conclusion, it should be noted that disease, pathological process are different concepts, but very important. Every person should know what reactions can occur in his body due to the effects of various stimuli, which may be the outcome of all the changes that occur.