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Etiology

Etiology describes the cause or causes of a disease.

References

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company; 2021. www.tabers.com/tabersonline/view/Tabers-Dictionary/731440/0/etiology?q=etiology. Accessed April 1, 2025.

Underwood JCE, Cross SS. What causes disease? In: Cross SS, ed. Underwood's Pathology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2025:chap 3.

Review Date 4/1/2025

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update: 07/08/2025.