functional disease

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease in which there is an abnormal change in the function of an organ, but no structural alteration in the tissues involved (opposed to organic disease).

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functional disease British  

noun

1. a disease in which there is no observable change in the structure of an organ or part Compare organic disease

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Etymology

Origin of functional disease

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

functional disease

By functional disease there is expressed merely that no anatomical or chemical change is discoverable in the material which gives the unusual reaction.

From Disease and Its Causes by Councilman, William Thomas

Sometimes this functional disease persists without any apparent injury to the individual as long as the ventricle does not take note of these extra auricular systoles and does not also become extra rapid.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)

Pruritus is a functional disease of the skin, the sole symptom of which is itching, there being no structural change.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman

Epilepsy, ep′i-lep-si, n. a chronic functional disease of the nervous system, manifested by recurring attacks of sudden insensibility or impairment of consciousness, commonly accompanied by peculiar convulsive seizures.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

The further our researches into the nature of disease extend, particularly the researches into the physiology and chemistry of disease, the smaller is the area of functional disease.

From Disease and Its Causes by Councilman, William Thomas