Intro to Pathology

Question 1

Define pathology

Answer 1

Scientific study of the structural and functional alterations in cells, tissues, and organs that underlie disease

**The bridge between basic science and clinical science (helps us understand the underlying mechanisms of diseases)

Question 2

Define etiology

Answer 2

Cause

Question 3

Define pathogenesis

Answer 3

Mechanism/sequence of events leading to disease development (“Physiology behind disease”)

**often dictates the appearance of signs/symptoms and must be understood to develop effective therapy

Question 4

Define morphology

Answer 4

Structural alterations induced in the organs or cells

Question 5

What are the types of extrinsic etiologies of disease?

Answer 5

• Infectious
• Iatrogenic (induced by medical care)
• Nutritional
• Toxic
• Physical (trauma)

Question 6

Define resection

Answer 6

Complete removal of disease processes

Question 7

How does a pathologist approach evaluating tissue microscopically?

Answer 7

1. Types of cells present
   (Pleomorphism= enlarged irregularly shaped nuclei)
2. Cellularity
3. Architectural pattern of organ
4. Necrosis/mitoses present?

Question 8

What are the main roles of a pathologist?

Answer 8

1. Anatomic pathology

• Surgical pathology (interpret biopsies and determine treatment)
• Cytopathology (evaluate cells removed from organs/fluid and diagnose) e.g. pap smear
• Autopsy

2. Clinical pathology (hospital blood/fluid tests)
3. Molecular pathology (evaluate tissue/cells for disease causing mutations or polymorphisms)

Question 9

What are the layers of blood vessel walls?

Answer 9

Innermost

1. intima; endothelial cells, fibroconnextive and elastic tissue
   (internal elastic lamina if artery)
2. media; smooth muscle cells and connective tissue
   **capillaries lack media
   (external elastic lamina if artery)
3. adventitia; collagenous tissue that blends with the connective tissue surrounding the vessel **fat

Outermost

Question 10

What are the cells/tissues often associated with inflammatory processes?

Answer 10

Neutrophils, lympocytes, plasma cells, monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, collagen

Question 11

What is another name for neutrophil?

Answer 11

“Polys” (polymorphonuclear leukocytes)

Question 12

How can you distinguish lymphocytes and plasma cells in HE stain?

Answer 12

Both mononuclear, but plasma cells have a more “pushed to the side” nucleus with clearly pink cytoplasm next to it

Question 13

How can you ID a macrophage? What is its name in tissue?

Answer 13

Small peripheral nucleus with abundant foamy cytoplasm… called a histiocyte in tissue