General Concepts In Pathology

Question 1

Define pathology

Answer 1

The study of disease (abnormalities of cell/tissue structure and/or function, loss of the body’s homeostasis)

Question 2

What makes up the concept of disease?

Answer 2

• epidemiology (broad patterns)
• aetiology (causes)
• pathogenesis (mechanism of disease)
• sequelae (complications)
• nature of disease (morphology and underlying molecular/functional changes)

Question 3

What are the different tissue types?

Answer 3

• epithelial
• connective tissue
• haemato-lymphoid
• neuro-glial
• melanocytic
• germ cell

Question 4

Describe different environmental changes that can result in disruption to cellular homeostasis and their effects

Answer 4

• chemicals (can damage cell organelles and processes)
• hypoxia (can disrupt oxidative respiratory processes in cell resulting in reduction in ATP)
• ischaemia (depletion of O2 and nutrients in tissue from blockage of arterial/venous supply)
• immune reactions
• nutritional/metabolic imbalances

Question 5

What causes cell injury and what are the possible outcomes?

Answer 5

If stress on the body is sustained or specific (as cells are sensitive). It can result in either sub-lethal cell injury or cell death with an inflammatory response from the body. Can result in eventual dysplasia.

Question 6

Describe the process of describing a pathological specimen

Answer 6

1. Gross or microscopic?
   - what organ/tissue?
   - normal/abnormal? (Describe abnormality, focal/diffuse?)
2. Gross
   - size/shape?
   - colour/texture?
3. Microscopic
   - look at different tissues present and consider if normal/abnormal
   - quantitative/qualitative abnormalities

Question 7

What are the broad categories of disease?

Answer 7

• developmental
• inflammatory
• neoplasia
• degenerative