2. Role Of Pathology In Medicine

Question 1

Define cytology

Define histology

Answer 1

Cytology = The study of cells (not in the context of their tissues)

Histology = the study of tissues (cells in their normal environment)

Question 2

What is the classic acute inflammatory cell?

Answer 2

Neutrophil. It has a multi-lobed nucleus

Question 3

What is a feature of acute bacterial meningitis?

Answer 3

Pus in the brain (acute inflammatory exudate)

Question 4

What does the prefix ana- mean?

Answer 4

Absence

Eg. Anaplasia = absence of differentiation

Question 5

What does the prefix dys- mean?

Answer 5

Disordered

Eg. Dysplasia = disordered proliferation

Question 6

What does the prefix hyper- mean?

Answer 6

Excess over normal

Eg. Hyperthyroidism

Question 7

What does the prefix hypo- mean?

Answer 7

Deficiency below normal

Eg. Hypothyroidism

Question 8

What does the prefix meta- mean?

Answer 8

Change from one state to another

Eg. Metaplasia - eg. Squamous to columnar lining change in the oesophagus due to acid reflux.

Metaplasia can also be physiological as well as pathological

Question 9

What does the suffix -itis mean?

Answer 9

Inflammation

Eg. Appendicitis

Question 10

What does the suffix -oma mean?

Answer 10

Tumour

Eg. Carcinoma

(Carc = epithelial tissues)

Question 11

What does the suffix -osis mean?

Answer 11

State or condition

Eg. Osetoarthrosis, necrosis

Question 12

What does the suffix -oid mean?

Answer 12

Bearing a resemblance to

Eg. Rheumatoid disease

Question 13

What does the suffix -penia mean?

Answer 13

Lack of

Eg. Thrombocytopenia

Question 14

What does the suffix -ectasis mean?

Answer 14

Dilatation

Eg. Brochiectasis

Question 15

What does the suffix -plasia mean?

Answer 15

Disorder of growth

Eg. Hyperplasia

Question 16

What does the suffix -opathy mean?

Answer 16

Abnormal state or lacking specific characteristics

Eg. Lymphadenopathy

Question 17

How are tumours classified?

Answer 17

Structure of origin

Benign vs. malignant

Question 18

Define fistula

Answer 18

An abnormal or surgically made passage between a hollow or tubular organ and the body surface, or between two organs

Question 19

Define neoplasia

Answer 19

New, uncontrolled growth of cells that is not under physiologic control

Question 20

What is the difference between a thrombus and an embolus?

Answer 20

A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there. An embolus is a clot that travels from the site where it formed to another location in the body. It is technically any detached, travelling, intravascular mass (solid, liquid or gaseous), carried by circulation and capable of clogging arterial capillary beds at a site distant from its point of origin

Question 21

Define metastasis

Answer 21

The spread of cancer or other disease from one organ or part to another not directly connected with it

Question 22

What is gross pathology?

Answer 22

Macroscopic, what you can see with the naked eye

Patient, autopsy, surgical specimen, X-ray

Question 23

What is the importance of biochemistry during an autopsy?

Answer 23

Need to know, for example, if somebody was under the influence of alcohol or had diabetic ketoacidosis etc. at the time of death

Question 24

What are the benefits of digital pathology?

Answer 24

• fusion of computing and histopathology
• instant access to unlimited databases and archives
• image recognition and processing
• 3D
• anytime anywhere