Introduction to Pathology

Question 1

What is the definition of pathology?

Answer 1

It is the study of suffering/diseases.

Question 2

What does it study?

Answer 2

It studies the:

• underlying causes of diseases (“aetiology”)
• mechanisms that result in signs and symptoms of the patient (“pathogenesis”)
• morphological changes, so the structural alteration induced in the cell and organs of the body

Question 3

What are the four main subdivisions of pathology?

Answer 3

• CLINICAL PATHOLOGY: this includes haematology, microbiology, immunology, toxicology, chemical pathology and genetics
• ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY: this includes histopathology (diseased tissue study) and cytopathology (study/diagnose at cellular level)
• FORENSIC PATHOLOGY AND AUTOPSY
• EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY

Question 4

List some techniques used in pathology.

Answer 4

• light microscopy
• immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence
• electron microscopy
• senology
• flow cytometry
• needle biopsy
• endoscopic biopsy
• incisional biopsy
• exfoliate cytology
• fluid cytology