2. Role Of Pathology In Medicine Flashcards
Define cytology
Define histology
Cytology = The study of cells (not in the context of their tissues)
Histology = the study of tissues (cells in their normal environment)
What is the classic acute inflammatory cell?
Neutrophil. It has a multi-lobed nucleus
What is a feature of acute bacterial meningitis?
Pus in the brain (acute inflammatory exudate)
What does the prefix ana- mean?
Absence
Eg. Anaplasia = absence of differentiation
What does the prefix dys- mean?
Disordered
Eg. Dysplasia = disordered proliferation
What does the prefix hyper- mean?
Excess over normal
Eg. Hyperthyroidism
What does the prefix hypo- mean?
Deficiency below normal
Eg. Hypothyroidism
What does the prefix meta- mean?
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
What does the suffix -itis mean?
Inflammation
Eg. Appendicitis
What does the suffix -oma mean?
Tumour
Eg. Carcinoma
(Carc = epithelial tissues)
What does the suffix -osis mean?
State or condition
Eg. Osetoarthrosis, necrosis
What does the suffix -oid mean?
Bearing a resemblance to
Eg. Rheumatoid disease
What does the suffix -penia mean?
Lack of
Eg. Thrombocytopenia
What does the suffix -ectasis mean?
Dilatation
Eg. Brochiectasis
What does the suffix -plasia mean?
Disorder of growth
Eg. Hyperplasia
What does the suffix -opathy mean?
Abnormal state or lacking specific characteristics
Eg. Lymphadenopathy
How are tumours classified?
Structure of origin
Benign vs. malignant
Define fistula
An abnormal or surgically made passage between a hollow or tubular organ and the body surface, or between two organs
Define neoplasia
New, uncontrolled growth of cells that is not under physiologic control
What is the difference between a thrombus and an embolus?
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
Define metastasis
The spread of cancer or other disease from one organ or part to another not directly connected with it
What is gross pathology?
Macroscopic, what you can see with the naked eye
Patient, autopsy, surgical specimen, X-ray
What is the importance of biochemistry during an autopsy?
Need to know, for example, if somebody was under the influence of alcohol or had diabetic ketoacidosis etc. at the time of death
What are the benefits of digital pathology?
- fusion of computing and histopathology
- instant access to unlimited databases and archives
- image recognition and processing
- 3D
- anytime anywhere
