Pathophysiology – a convergence of pathology with physiology – is the study of the disordered physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with a disease or injury. Pathology is the medical discipline that describes conditions typically observed during a disease state, whereas physiology is the biological discipline that describes processes or mechanisms operating within an organism. Pathology describes the abnormal or undesired condition, whereas pathophysiology seeks to explain the functional changes that are occurring within an individual due to a disease or pathologic state. Deranged function in an individual or an organ due to a disease. For example, a pathophysiologic alteration is a change in function as distinguished from a structural defect. Dementia Pathophysiology. Vascular disease is mainly caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) due to a thickening of the artery lining from fatty deposits or plaques (atheroma). ... Dementia is a symptom of a variety of specific structural brain diseases as well as several system degenerations. the physiology of abnormal states specifically : the functional changes that accompany a particular syndrome or disease. Pathophysiology is the study of the physical and biological abnormalities occurring within the body as a result of the disease. ... Nurses who are able to recognize the pathophysiological signs and symptoms of the conditions of their patients will be able to provide a higher quality of advanced care.