Which term best describes the changes in structure and function resulting from an injury process?

The term that best describes the changes in structure and function resulting from an injury process is "pathology." Pathology refers to the study of the nature of disease and the changes that occur in tissues and organs as a result of injury or illness. This encompasses not only the physical and structural alterations but also the functional impairments that can arise due to the injury.

Understanding pathology is critical for athletic trainers and healthcare professionals, as it helps them to assess the extent of an injury, understand the healing process, and determine appropriate treatment plans. For example, when an athlete suffers a sprain, studying the pathology of that injury would include examining the damaged ligaments and any impact on surrounding tissues and function.

The other terms present different concepts: "symptom" refers to the subjective experience of a patient regarding their condition, "diagnosis" is the identification of a disease or condition based on symptoms and tests, and "mechanism" pertains to the underlying processes or events that cause an injury, rather than the resultant changes from that injury.