What is the study of disease causes called?

• A. Etiology
• B. Biology
• C. Toxicology
• D. Pathology

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is identifying the study of disease causes. This field is etiology, which focuses on what starts and drives a disease—the cause or origin. Etiology covers infectious agents like bacteria and viruses, genetic factors, environmental exposures, toxins, and immune or nutritional issues that initiate disease. Understanding etiology helps clinicians choose appropriate treatments and prevention strategies because it points to the root cause. This is different from pathology, which looks at the structural and functional changes that occur in tissues as a result of disease; toxicology, which studies how toxic substances affect organisms; and biology, the broad science of life in general. For example, identifying the etiology of pneumonia involves determining whether the cause is a bacterial or viral infection, or another factor, to guide therapy.