path-, patho-, -path-, -pathia, -pathic, -pathology, -pathetic, -pathize, -pathy

(Greek: feeling, sensation, perception; suffering, disease, or disorder; a system of treating diseases)

In medicine, some of these elements usually mean "someone who suffers from a disease of, or one who treats a disease"; so, they should not be confused with the words that mean "feeling" which are also shown on these pages even though both meanings come from the same Greek element.

psychopathologist (s) (noun), psychopathologists (pl)
Someone who specializes in mental and behavioural disorders: Mr. Smart, Mary's father, was a psychopathologist who studied and did research of the origins, the processes of development, and the identification of mental disorders, including possible cures and treatments.
psychopathology (s) (noun), psychopathologies (pl)
The branch of medicine which deals with the causes and nature of mental illnesses: Psychopathology includes the research into the causes and development of psychiatric disorders, as well as abnormal and maladaptive behavior or mental activity.
psychopathy (s) (noun), psychopathies (pl)
A reference to a pattern of antisocial, manipulative, or violent behavior: James had a serious personality disorder known as psychopathy with such symptoms as having a lack of remorse for his criminal actions.
pyelopathy (s) (noun), pyelopathies (pl)
One of various illnesses of the renal pelvis and the kidney; pyelonephrosis: Because Jack was diagnosed with pyelopathy, an infection of his kidney tissue and the tube that conveys urine to the bladder, he had to go to hospital for further examinations and perhaps an operation.
Quotes: Apathy, Indifference
Quotes: Empathy, Sympathy
A quality that's never wasted except when given to oneself: empathy, sympathy quotes.
rachiopathy (s) (noun), rachiopathies (pl)
One kind of disease or disorder of the vertebrae; spondylopathy: Mrs. Big was getting older and had rachiopathy, which was osteopathy of the spine.
radiculomyelopathy (s) (noun) (no pl)
A disease of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots; myeloradiculopathy: In medical school, Tom learned that radiculomyelopathy pertained to the medulla spinalis and the nerve roots.
radiculoneuropathy (s) (noun), radiculoneuropathies (pl)
An ailment of the spinal nerve roots and nerves: At the same time as Tom, Susan learned that radiculoneuropathy was concerned with the peripheral spinal nerves and their roots in a person.
radiculopathy (s) (noun), radiculopathies (pl)
A disease of spinal nerve roots: Among some patients, a type of pain is felt in the extremities (most commonly the arms or legs) along the course of the spinal nerve roots.

Inflammation or compression of the spinal nerve from conditions, such as "stenosis" or a herniated disc, can trigger radicular pain.

If a cervical condition is causing radiculopathy, for example, "cervical stenosis", it can cause arm, neck, and shoulder pain.

If a lumbar condition is the cause, that is a lumbar herniated disc, it can cause leg pain and "sciatica" or pain that results from irritation of the sciatic nerve which is the largest nerve in the body that begins in the lumbar spinal cord in the lower back (sacrum) and extends through the buttocks area, sending nerve endings down through the legs and knees.
renopathy (s) (noun), renopathies (pl)
A rarely used term for nephropathy, an ailment of the kidneys: Renopathy is concerned with the abnormality or the kidneys, or with a damage, or with a disease of the kidneys.
retinopathy (s) (noun), retinopathies (pl)
One kind of ailment of the retina: Retinopathy is a noninflammatory degenerative disease of the retina that can result in a loss of vision.
rhinopathy (s) (noun), rhinopathies (pl)
Any disorder or disease of the nose: Jack's uncle drank too much alcoholic and suffered from rhinopathy or, in this case, a "brandy nose", which made his nose enlarged and quite red!
sociopathic (adjective), more sociopathic, most sociopathic
A reference to an antisocial personality disorder: Susan read about a sociopathic man who was mentally ill, was not able to tell the difference between right and wrong, and, because he had a lack of conscience, never felt guilty about his improper or unscrupulous actions.
sociopathy (s) (noun), sociopathies (pl)
A personality disorder characterized by continuous and chronic antisocial behavior: Sociopathy describes a person's disposition in that he or she behaves in an aggressive, violent, unpleasant way, and violates the rights of others and generally accepted social norms.

Associated personality traits include impulsiveness, egocentricity, inability to tolerate boredom or frustration, irritability and aggressiveness, recklessness, disregard for truth, and the inability to maintain consistent, responsible functioning at work, at school, or as a parent.


Quiz You can find self-scoring quizzes over many of the words in this subject area by going to this Vocabulary Quizzes page.