L1 Flashcards
Pathology
the study of diseases or suffering
Pathology is the study of
structural, biochemical, & functional changes in cells, tissues, & organs involved by any disease
Pathology is the bridge between
basic science and clinical science, and it uses molecular, microbiologic, immunologic, & morphologic techniques to reach a diagnosis & explanation
Types of pathology:
- General pathology
* Systemic pathology
General pathology:
study general reactions of cells and tissues to diseases
Systemic pathology:
study alteration of specialized organs in specific diseases
Etiology:
the underlying causes & modifying factors responsible for initiation & progression
of a disease [why a disease arises]
Etiology can be:
Genetic “i.e. mutations” or Acquired “i.e. infection, nutritional, chemical”
Pathogenesis:
mechanisms of development & progression of disease [how disease develop]
It’s the sequence of events in response to etiologic cause until the ultimate expression of the disease
Pathogenesis
Classification of Pathology:
- Anatomical (surgical) pathology:
2. Clinical pathology (fluid)
Gross and microscopic examination of tissues & cells usually obtained as a mass in surgery.
Anatomical (surgical) pathology
hematology, microbiology, immunology, serology & biochemistry
Clinical pathology (fluid)
Subtypes of Anatomical pathology:
- Histopathology: examination of tissues under microscope
- Cytopathology: examination of cells shed in body fluids [i.e. cervical smear, sputum & gastric washings]
- Forensic pathology: postmortem examination (autopsy) to find the cause of death
- Other sub-specialties: Dermatopathology, Neuropathology, Oral pathology
Biopsies:
can be excisional (whole tissue) OR incisional (part of tissue)
usually examined by cytopathology for disease screening
Smears
shed on surface, i.e. sputum
Exfoliative
from deep organs, i.e. thyroid mass
Fine needle aspiration
Specimen identification:
it must contain the patient name, medical record number, and a request form, date & time of collection, physician name, brief history, Number of specimens
Specimens:
• Usually preserved in formalin to fix the tissues
• Then it’s put in paraffin wax block
• Paraffin block can be sliced into slides (8 micrometers thick) and tested later
• Paraffin block can be stored for 30 years & slides for 10 years
• Slides can be stained before examination using H&E (Hematoxylin & eosin) stain
֎ Nucleus is blue, cytoplasm is pink
