etiology /ē′tē·ol″əjē/ [Gk, aitia, cause, logos, science] , 1. the study of all factors that may be involved in the development of a disease, including the susceptibility of the patient, the nature of the disease agent, and the way in which the patient’s body is invaded by the agent. 2. the cause of a disease. Compare pathogenesis. −etiological, adj.
