This course is designed to present an orientation to disease as disordered physiology. It is intended to enable the nurse practitioner to understand how and why the symptoms and signs of various conditions appear. In approaching disease as disordered physiology, this course analyzes the mechanism(s) of production of the symptoms and signs of different disease syndromes. In doing so, it recognizes the practitioner's need to understand the mechanism(s) underlying the disease and its clinical manifestations so that rational therapies can be devised. Thus, appropriate screening and diagnostic laboratory evaluative methods will also be included.