Pathophysiologie

Pathophysiologie, or pathophysiology, is the study of the disordered physiological processes that underlie disease. It seeks to explain how normal bodily functions become dysfunctional and how such dysfunction leads to signs, symptoms, and clinical outcomes. The field sits between physiology and pathology: physiology describes how the body normally works, while pathology describes structural and functional abnormalities; pathophysiology connects these by tracing causal pathways from initial insults to organ and system failure.

Approach: Pathophysiology examines mechanisms at multiple levels—molecular and cellular changes, tissue and organ dysfunction, and system-wide regulatory disturbances such as hormonal or autonomic control. Common themes include inflammatory responses, metabolic derangements, ischemia and hypoxia, toxin effects, and immune dysregulation.

Clinical relevance: Understanding pathophysiology helps explain patient presentations, predicts disease progression, and identifies targets for therapy and prognosis. It underpins diagnostic tests, such as biomarkers that reflect altered pathways, and informs treatment strategies aimed at correcting or compensating for the disrupted processes.

Examples: Hypertension involves vascular resistance and renal-salt balance with neurohormonal activation; diabetes mellitus results from insulin resistance and beta-cell failure leading to hyperglycemia and tissue damage. Sepsis reflects a dysregulated host response with widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction.

Research tools: experimental models, imaging, molecular profiling, and computational simulations are used to map pathways and test interventions. Education in pathophysiologie emphasizes translating basic mechanisms into clinical reasoning.