What is pathophysiology?

Pathophysiology is defined as the study of the functional changes that occur in the body as a result of a disease or abnormal condition. This field focuses on understanding how diseases affect normal physiological processes and ultimately lead to clinical manifestations. By examining the mechanisms of disease at the cellular and systemic levels, pathophysiology provides important insights into how and why symptoms occur, guiding healthcare professionals in diagnosis, treatment, and management of various health conditions.

The other options, while relevant to the broader field of health and medicine, do not encapsulate the essence of pathophysiology. The examination of physical signs and symptoms pertains to physical assessment, which is a crucial aspect of clinical practice but does not primarily focus on the underlying functional changes resulting from disease. Investigating genetic factors influences the understanding of hereditary diseases but is a separate area of study typically categorized under genetics or genomics. The analysis of environmental impacts on health relates to epidemiology and environmental health, emphasizing external factors affecting health rather than the internal physiological changes that occur due to disease processes.