The study of functional alterations in human health because of an injury, disease, or syndrome describes which of the following?

A. An epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a specific area or population. The localized nature of the increase in ringworm infections supports this classification.

B. Endemic refers to a disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area; it does not account for the sudden spike in infections.

C. A pandemic involves widespread outbreaks affecting multiple countries or continents, which does not apply here.

D. Prevalence measures how widespread a disease is within a population, but it does not reflect sudden increases.

A. Apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, which is a controlled process rather than a direct consequence of infection and blood flow issues.

B. Necrosis occurs when there is unregulated cell death due to injury or lack of blood flow, often resulting from infection or inflammation leading to tissue damage.

C. Cellular adaptation refers to changes that occur in cells in response to stress or injury but does not encompass the direct consequences of infection and impaired blood flow.

D. Cellular damage can occur as a result of necrosis or other processes, but in the context of infection and blood flow issues, necrosis is the more definitive outcome.