Describes changes occurring at the cellular, tissue, and/or organ level that contribute to the disease process.

Nursing Pathophysiology Paper | Nursing homework help

Cellular level: Damage to cells can cause disease at the cell level. It could be a mutation that causes the production of an abnormal protein or a decrease in functionality caused by inflammation.

Diseases can be caused by disruptions to the way different elements interact. For instance, if there is an increase in collagen production due to chronic inflammation then it could lead to scarring and fibrosis—a condition where tissues become thickened and less functional. Moreover, malfunctioning tissues can produce hormones with negative side effects or that are not in balance.

Organ level: Diseases manifest themselves as changes to organ function or structure. They can be anything from atrophy due to lack of stimulation or use, to hypertrophy due excess strain. Both scenarios have severe consequences if not treated. Other organs might stop producing substances or become too active depending on the condition.

The conclusion is that all three levels contain complex systems, which need to be maintained in order to stay healthy. When one component fails, it can trigger a chain of events leading often further health impairments. Understanding how these processes function will help us identify any potential problems sooner, before permanent damage is done.