Intro to Pathology Flashcards
Define pathology
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)
Define etiology
Cause
Define pathogenesis
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
Define morphology
Structural alterations induced in the organs or cells
What are the types of extrinsic etiologies of disease?
- Infectious
- Iatrogenic (induced by medical care)
- Nutritional
- Toxic
- Physical (trauma)
Define resection
Complete removal of disease processes
How does a pathologist approach evaluating tissue microscopically?
- Types of cells present
(Pleomorphism= enlarged irregularly shaped nuclei) - Cellularity
- Architectural pattern of organ
- Necrosis/mitoses present?
What are the main roles of a pathologist?
- Anatomic pathology
- Surgical pathology (interpret biopsies and determine treatment)
- Cytopathology (evaluate cells removed from organs/fluid and diagnose) e.g. pap smear
- Autopsy
- Clinical pathology (hospital blood/fluid tests)
- Molecular pathology (evaluate tissue/cells for disease causing mutations or polymorphisms)
What are the layers of blood vessel walls?
Innermost
- intima; endothelial cells, fibroconnextive and elastic tissue
(internal elastic lamina if artery) - media; smooth muscle cells and connective tissue
**capillaries lack media
(external elastic lamina if artery) - adventitia; collagenous tissue that blends with the connective tissue surrounding the vessel **fat
Outermost
What are the cells/tissues often associated with inflammatory processes?
Neutrophils, lympocytes, plasma cells, monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, collagen
What is another name for neutrophil?
“Polys” (polymorphonuclear leukocytes)
How can you distinguish lymphocytes and plasma cells in HE stain?
Both mononuclear, but plasma cells have a more “pushed to the side” nucleus with clearly pink cytoplasm next to it
How can you ID a macrophage? What is its name in tissue?
Small peripheral nucleus with abundant foamy cytoplasm… called a histiocyte in tissue