Intro To Path/Disease Terminology

Question 1

Define pathology

Answer 1

Study of structural and functional changes associated with disease.

Question 2

Define pathogenesis

Answer 2

Disease formation

The mechanisms and processes that lead to disease development

Question 3

Define pathophysiology

Answer 3

The study of altered physiologic function due to disease.

Question 4

What is a lesion?

Answer 4

An abnormal structural or functional change.

• can be gross or microscopic
• the term pathology is sometimes substituted for the word lesion (from people other than pathologists)

Question 5

Define pathognomonic

Answer 5

Distinctly characteristic of a particular disease.

Once seen, it indicates with near certainty a specific disease diagnosis is certain.

Question 6

What is the difference between clinical diagnosis versus clinicopathologic diagnosis?

Answer 6

• Clinical: based on examination of living animal based on PE, radiographs, cardiology, etc.
• Clinicopathologic: based on combo of clinical signs, PE results, changes in hematology results from a living patient

Question 7

What type of diagnosis is given after the examination of tissues along with a “summary diagnosis” indicating severity, duration, distribution, type of lesion?

Answer 7

Morphologic diagnosis

Question 8

What type of diagnosis provides the precise cause of disease and tissue response?

Answer 8

Etiologic diagnosis

Question 9

Give an example of a morphologic diagnosis for severe liver fibrosis?

(Add picture from Lec 1B slide 9)

Answer 9

Chronic, diffuse, severe, hepatic fibrosis

Question 10

What is also commonly called a list of rule outs?

Answer 10

A differential diagnosis. Lists conditions that could potentially be causing the patient’s clinical signs or lesions.

Question 11

What is the FINAL name of the disease?

Answer 11

Definitive diagnosis made after working through the case.

Question 12

If a rule out is so highly unlikely, it should not be considered in the list of rule outs, that rule out is called what?

Answer 12

A zebra!! (When you hear thundering hoof beats, think horses first, not zebras)

Question 13

What do pathologists do?

Answer 13

Interpret and diagnose changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids

Question 14

what are 4 things a prognosis may be indicated as?

Answer 14

• good prognosis
• guarded
• poor
• grave