Akademik

That which produces an effect or condition; that by which a morbid change or disease is brought about. [L. causa]

- constitutional c. a c. acting from within or through some systemic process or inborn error.

- exciting c. the direct provoking c. of a condition. SYN: procatarxis (1).

- necessary c. an etiologic factor without which a result in question will not occur; the occurrence of the result is proof that the factor is operating.

- precipitating c. a factor that brings on the onset of manifestations of a disease process.

- predisposing c. anything that produces a susceptibility or disposition to a condition without actually causing it.

- proximate c. the immediate c. that precipitates a condition.

- specific c. a c. the action of which can definitely produce the condition in question.

- sufficient c. an etiologic factor that guarantees that a result in question will occur; non-occurrence of the result is proof that the factor is not operating.