Pathophysiology

The term "patho-" refers to the observed physical changes and "physio-" to the disease's functional processes or mechanisms. Pathophysiology describes the changes that occur during a disease process. Pathophysiology is the branch of toxicology that studies the biochemical and physical changes that occur when a person (known as the "host") is exposed to toxic levels of a substance.

In toxicology, pathophysiology considers how the qualities of the poison (for instance, measurement, actual properties and substance properties) and the attributes of the host (counting species, life stage, wellbeing/conceptive status, digestion, and individual responsiveness) communicate to deliver physical and additionally biochemical changes in the host. The host's response to a toxicant's effects is another aspect of pathophysiology. Physical and chemical injury may be sufficient to cause rapid death in acutely lethal intoxications. Toxicant-induced injury causes dysfunction of cells, tissues, and/or organs in non-lethal toxic exposures that may last or lead to death.