Pathology Definitions (from Glossary) 2016 Flashcards
1
Q
Abscess
A
a collection of pus in an organ or tissue
2
Q
Cellular adaptation
A
reversible cellular change occurring in response to environmental stress.
Each type of cellular adaptation may be classified as pathological or physiological
3
Q
Adenocarcinoma
A
a malignant neoplasm showing histological features of glandular or secretory epithelium
4
Q
Adenoma
A
a benign neoplasm showing histological features of glandular or secretoryepithelium.
5
Q
Aetiology
A
the cause of a disease.
6
Q
Alcoholic hepatitis
A
acute hepatitis induced by alcohol. A characteristic feature is the formation of Mallory bodies within the cytoplasm of injured hepatocytes.
7
Q
Amorphous
A
lacking in cellular or tissue detail
8
Q
Amphophilic
A
staining with both basic and acid dyes
9
Q
Amyloids
A
abnormal proteins that form extracellular deposits that are resistant to proteolytic breakdown.
10
Q
Anaemia
A
deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood.
11
Q
Anaplasia
A
literally, to form backward.
A feature of malignant neoplasms, referring to loss of differentiation in relation to the tumour’s normal tissue counterpart.
12
Q
Aneurysm
A
localised dilatation of the wall of an artery or of the heart, usually of the left ventricle.
13
Q
Anoxia
A
complete deprivation of oxygen
14
Q
Anthracosis
A
the presence of inhaled particles of coal dust in the lung that are engulfed by pulmonary macrophages and transported along lymphatic channels to lymph nodes in the hilum.
15
Q
Apoptosis
A
regulated cell death affecting single cells in response to a variety of pathological and physiological stimuli.
16
Q
Ascites
A
abnormal excessive fluid in the peritoneal cavity
17
Q
Assman focus
A
focus of granulomatous inflammation in the apex of the lung seen in secondary tuberculosis.
18
Q
Atheroembolus
A
an embolus originating from an atherosclerotic plaque, composed of lipid-rich debris
19
Q
Atrophy
A
reduction in size of an organ, tissue or cell.
20
Q
Barrett’s oesophagus
A
metaplasia of the stratified squamous epithelium in the lower oesophagus to simple columnar epithelium occurring in response to gastric reflux. Intraepithelial neoplasia (dysplasia) may develop in Barrett’s esophagus and give rise to adenocarcinoma. Patients with Barrett’s oesophagus undergo regular, lifelong endoscopic surveillance.
21
Q
Basophilic
A
staining blue—purple due to avidity for the haematoxylin component of the H&E stain
22
Q
Benign
A
a neoplasm which grows by non-destructive expansion and remains localised to its site of origin.
can be cured by local excision.
Histologically, closely resemble their cell of origin with normal or only mildly abnormal nuclei and low mitotic activity.
23
Q
Biopsy
A
removal of tissue from the body during life for the purpose of pathological analysis
24
Q
Bronchiectasis
A
a chronic inflammatory disease of the lung characterised by irreversible dilatation of
bronchi, and associated with recurrent or chronic pulmonary bacterial infections
25
Bronchiolitis
inflammation of bronchioles due to viral
infections and atypical bacterial pathogens such as mycoplasma.
Viral bronchiolitis is common in childhood.
26
Bulla
a large fluid---filled blister in the skin; a large cystically dilated airspace in the lung.
27
Calcification
the abnormal deposition of calcium in tissue.
28
Calculus
a stone forming inside the gallbladder or the urinary tract.
29
Carcinoid tumour
tumours showing histological features of neuroendocrine cells.
30
Carcinoma
a malignant tumour showing histological features of epithelium.
31
Carcinoma in-situ
an epithelial proliferation with the cytological characteristics of malignancy, but which
has not yet invaded beyond the epithelial basement membrane into underlying tissues.
benign and do not have the ability to metastasise.
32
Cardiac tamponade
compression of the heart by accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac.
33
Caseous necrosis
grossly appears white, soft and cheese-like microscopically appears pink and granular with fragmented nuclei and no cellular detail.
seen in tuberculosis
34
Cerebral infarction
necrosis of cerebral tissue due to loss of blood supply.
35
Choledocholithiasis
calculi in the bile ducts.
36
Cholelithiasis
calculi in the gallbladder
37
Chronic bronchitis
persistent cough productive of sputum for at least 3 months in at least 2 consecutive years.
Histologically characterised by an increase in the Reid index (ratio of the thickness of the bronchial mucous glands to the thickness of the bronchial wall from the epithelium to the cartilage).
38
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
a term that incorporates both emphysema and chronic
| bronchitis, the features of which commonly overlap.
39
Cirrhosis
a state of abnormal liver anatomy where regenerating hepatocytes form nodules that are completely surrounded by fibrous bands (septa).
40
Clotting of blood
process of haemostasis after haemorrhage, or
| solidification of blood in the vascular tree after death.
41
Coagulative necrosis
a pattern of necrosis seen in infarcts.
Microscopically, appears as “ghost cells”, that have lost nuclei and cytoplasmic detail, but the overall tissue
architecture is retained.
42
Congestion (vascular)
engorgement of a vascular bed with blood. Congested tissues appear grossly red
43
Consolidation
solidification of lung tissue, sometimes due to accumulation of inflammatory exudate within
the alveoli as a feature of bacterial pneumonia.
44
Cor pulmonale
isolated right ventricular failure arising as a result of pulmonary hypertension
45
Cribriform
growth pattern seen in carcinomas, where a group of tumour cells are perforated by round glandular spaces so as to resemble a sieve
46
Crohn’s disease
one of the two forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease
47
Cryptogenic/idiopathic
of unknown cause
48
Cyst
an abnormal enclosed epithelial-lined sac that contains material secreted by the epithelium.
49
Cytokeratins
structural proteins present in epithelial cells.
50
Cytokine
small secreted proteins involved in cell signalling including in inflammation, immune responses
and haematopoiesis.
51
Cytology
the appearance or features of individual cells
52
Desmoplasia
fibrous tissue which forms in response to tissue invasion by a malignant tumour.
53
Differentiation
The process by which a cell becomes more specialised
54
Arterial dissection
the passage of blood into the wall of an artery via a tear in the intima, most commonly occurring in the thoracic aorta.
The blood creates a false passage in the outer media, which is split into two layers.
55
Diverticulitis
acute inflammation of a diverticulum
56
Diverticulum
localised out-pouching of mucosa through the wall of a hollow organ.
57
Dysplasia
disordered growth of cells or tissue
58
Ectopic
wrongly situated
59
Effusion
accumulation of fluid within a space or body cavity e.g. the pleural or pericardial cavity or joint
space.
60
Embolism
a mass of material carried within the vascular system.
61
Emphysema
destruction of lung tissue distal to the terminal bronchioles without fibrosis.
A disease of smokers.
Alpha---1---antitrypsin deficiency is a rare cause.
62
Empyema
accumulation of pus within the pleural cavity
63
Epithelioid
to resemble an epithelial cell
64
Erosion
a partial thickness breach of a mucosal layer.
65
Exudate
a fluid rich in protein and often cells, exuding from abnormally permeable vessels in response to
inflammation or injury.
66
Fat necrosis
death of fatty tissue occurring in response to enzymes released in acute inflammation, pancreatitis, or trauma.
bright yellow macroscopic appearance and is prone to calcification, producing chalky white deposits.
67
Fibrin
an insoluble protein, derived from fibrinogen, formed in the process of haemostasis andthrombosis
and present in acute inflammatory exudates.
68
Fibrinoid
resembling fibrin, deeply eosinophilic
69
Fibrinoid necrosis
necrosis of blood vessels (including glomerular vessels) associated with deposition of intensely eosinophilic proteinaceous material.
70
Fibrinous exudate
the fibrin rich exudate which forms on the serosal surface of inflamed organs.
dull, shaggy or stringy appearance
71
Fibroadenoma
a benign neoplasm of breast fibroepithelial tissue
72
Fibrosis
the formation of scar tissue in the processes of wound healing or chronic inflammation.
73
Fistula
an abnormal communication between two hollow organs, between a hollow organ and the skin,
between two blood vessels, or between a blood vessel and a hollow organ
74
Gangrene
necrosis of tissue with putrefaction (decomposition).
75
Giant cells
large multinucleated macrophages forming in response to certain stimuli, such as foreign material, insoluble material or pathogens.
76
Ghon complex
the lesions of primary pulmonary tuberculosis, consisting of an area of inflammation (granulomas and caseation) in the peripheral mid zone of the lung and enlarged, caseating hilar lymph nodes.
77
Ghon focus
the area of inflammation in the periphery of the lung, classically seen in primary pulmonary
tuberculosis.
78
Grading (of neoplastic lesions)
a histological assessment of the degree to which neoplastic cells resemble normal cells i.e. degree of differentiation.
79
Granulation tissue
the tissue of healing resulting in the formation of scar tissue that forms in response to inflammation, thrombosis and necrosis.
80
Granuloma
Histological description of a well-circumscribed collection of epithelioid macrophages +/- multinucleate giant cells
81
Granulomatous inflammation
specific type of chronic inflammation characterised by presence of epithelioid macrophages +/- multinucleate giant cells +/- necrosis.
form of cell---mediated immune response that develops in response to agents that are difficult or impossible to eradicate, such as foreign bodies and mycobacterium tuberculosis.
82
Haematemesis
vomiting of blood
83
Haematoma
a localised mass of blood outside the vascular tree.
84
Haemoptysis
coughing up of blood.
85
Haemorrhage
the abnormal presence of blood outside the vascular tree.
results from trauma to a vessel wall, or some form of
vessel wall abnormality leading to rupture.
86
Haemosiderin
a granular, brown substance containing iron, seen within macrophages, formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin in the tissue
87
Haemothorax
the presence of blood in the pleural cavity
88
Acute hepatitis
defined clinically as elevation of serum ALT (or AST) for
89
Chronic hepatitis
defined clinically as elevation of ALT (or AST)
for a period of greater than 6 months
defined pathologically as the presence of portal and periportal inflammation (interface hepatitis) and fibrosis.
90
steatohepatitis
hepatitis associated with fatty change (steatosis), hepatocellular ballooning degeneration (severe swelling) and, in severe cases, formation of Mallory bodies.
91
Hepatocellular adenoma
a benign neoplasm of hepatocytes
92
Hepatocellular carcinoma
a malignant neoplasm showing hepatocytic differentiation
93
Hyaline
a microscopic appearance described as glassy and eosinophilic.
94
Hydrocephalus
an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium, usually associated with dilatation of the ventricular system and commonly causing increased intracranial pressure.
95
Hyperchromasia
the property of being dark staining (“hyperchromatic”), usually used to describe the nuclei of malignant cells which contain excess nuclear DNA and so stain intensely with haematoxylin.
96
Hyperplasia
an adaptive change characterised by an increase in cell number.
97
Hypertrophy
an adaptive change characterised by an increase in cell size.
98
Hypoplasia
incomplete development or underdevelopment of an organ ortissue.
99
Hypoxia
deficiency of oxygen in tissues
100
Idiopathic
of unknown cause (also called cryptogenic).
101
Induration
hardening to palpation, caused by inflammation or infiltration by aneoplastic population.
102
Infarction
death of tissue due to reduction or loss of blood supply.
103
Acute Inflammation
the host response occurring in the first 24-48 hours after injury. There is vascular dilatation leading to increased blood flow, increased vascular permeability leading to exudation of protein-rich fluid, and the migration of neutrophils into the tissue leading to a cellular exudate.
104
Chronic Inflammation
the host response to a prolonged or persistent stimulus characterised by predominantly mononuclear inflammation (lymphocytes and plasma cells) and fibrosis.
105
Interface hepatitis
death of hepatocytes at the interface with connective tissue of the portal tracts, associated with lymphoplasmacytic inflammation.
pathological hallmark of chronic hepatitis but is not specific for it.
106
Ischaemia
reduction or loss of blood supply leading to deprivation of oxygen and nutrients. Leads to tissue necrosis if of sufficient duration.
107
Koilocyte
an abnormal squamous cell seen in the mid-upper epithelium with infection by HPV.
Typically has a clear halo around an irregular, raisin---like nucleus. May be binucleate.
108
Left shift
the appearance of immature neutrophils (myelocytes and metamyelocytes) in the peripheral blood.
109
Leukaemia
malignant neoplastic proliferation of haematolymphoid cells, mostly at a precursor stage.
110
Lipofuscin
an intracellular granular yellow-brown pigment occurring as a result of lysosomal breakdown of
cellular components related to ageing.
111
Liquefactive (necrosis)
the pattern of necrosis typical of cerebral infarction and also in association with abundant neutrophils with the formation of pus.
As a result of enzymatic digestion, the necrotic tissue
liquefies leading to the formation of a fluid---filled pace.
112
Lymphadenopathy
enlargement of lymph nodes
113
Lymphoma
a neoplasm of cells showing lymphoid differentiation
114
Malignant (neoplasm)
a neoplasm which infiltrates
115
Mesothelioma
a malignant tumour showing mesothelial differentiation.
116
Metaplasia
the replacement of one cell type by another in response to an environmental stress.
117
Metastasis
Growth of secondary malignant tumour at a site separate from the primary tumour from which it arose
118
Atypical mitosis
an abnormally configured mitotic figure
119
Monoclonal
tumour or cellular proliferation derived from a single cell.
120
Morphology
the form or structure of organs, tissues and cells.
121
Myeloma (multiple myeloma)
malignant tumour of plasma cells.
122
Myocardial infarction
death of cardiac myocytes due to reduction or loss of blood supply.
123
Necrosis
death of tissue.
124
Neoplasm
an abnormal proliferation of genetically altered cells which have escaped normal physiological control.
125
Oedema
abnormal accumulation of fluid in cells and tissues.
126
Oncocyte
epithelial cell with pink granular cytoplasm due to the presence of many mitochondria.
127
Organisation
ingrowth of granulation tissue to form scar tissue.
128
Papillary
forming finger---like projections, used to describe the arrangement of epithelial cells in
projections around fine vascular cores.
129
Papilloma
a benign neoplasm of squamous epithelial cells
130
Paraneoplastic syndrome
complications of malignant neoplasms that do not relate to the presence of the primary tumour, metastases or hormones that are normally produced by the tissue type of the tumour.
131
Pathogenesis
how a disease arises
132
Pathognomonic
feature so characteristic of a particular disease that it is sufficient to make the diagnosis.
133
Penetration
a pathological defect in the wall of a hollow viscus that extends into deeper tissues, typically relating to an ulcer.
134
Peptic ulcer
an ulcer, usually occurring in the stomach or duodenum, as a result of impaired mucosal
defence and injury from acid or pepsin (most commonly related to Helicobacter pylori infection or ingestion of
non---steroidal anti---inflammatory drugs).
135
Perforation
a pathological defect in the wall of a hollow viscus (typically caused by necrosis such as in
peptic ulcers, acute inflammation or malignancies) that extends through into another space.
136
Petechia
a pin-point haemorrhage resulting from injury to small vessels and is non blanching
137
Pleomorphism
a descriptive term referring to variation in
| size and shape of cells and nuclei
138
Pneumoconiosis
lung disease caused by the inhalation of dusts, most often in an occupational setting
139
Pneumonia
inflammation of the lung, often restricted in common usage to infectious causes.
140
Polyclonal
cellular proliferation derived from multiplecells.
141
Polyp
a descriptive term referring to a discrete elevation of a mucosal surf
142
Pott’s disease
tuberculosis of the spine.
143
Pseudocyst
a fluid filled cavity that may form in acute pancreatitis.
144
Purpura
red or purple patches >3mm size on the skin caused by bleeding from small blood vessels.
145
Purulent
containing pus
146
Pus
inflammatory exudate accumulating in response to certain types of bacterial infection, composed of
necrotic cellular debris and neutrophil polymorphs both living and dead.
147
Pyogenic
pus forming
148
Regeneration
the replication of cells to replace those lost following injury
149
Repair
the process by which damaged or destroyed tissue is replaced by scar tissue, when resolution is not
possible, usually either because the injured cells are unable to divide or because the connective tissue
framework has been too severely disrupted.
150
Resolution
the return to normal structure and function of a tissue after injury. This requires that any injured cells can divide and that the connective tissue structure is not severely disrupted.
151
Sarcoma
a malignant tumour showing features of cells derived from mesenchymal tissues.
152
Sclerosis
induration or hardening, often due to deposition of connective tissue
153
Stage
the extent to which a tumour has progressed through its natural history, expressed in termsof
anatomical spread. Stage is assigned using the TNM (tumour, nodes, metastases) system
154
Steatosis (macrovesicular)
a form of reversible cell injury characterised by the accumulation of large triglyceride droplets in hepatocytes
155
Steatosis (microvesicular)
an uncommon pathological change which is sometimes fatal
156
Suppuration
production of pus
157
Teratoma
a neoplasm containing tissue from all three layers of the embryo; a form of germ cell tumour.
158
Thrombus
a clotted mass of blood that forms within the cardiovascular system, i.e. within a blood vessel or the heart, during life.
159
Transudate
extracellular fluid with low protein and cell content, arising from increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
160
Tubercle
a small nodule caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Histologically, tuberclesare
granulomas usually containing a central area of caseous necrosis approximately 2mm in diameter.Tubercles fuse together to produce progressively larger areas of necrotising granulomatous inflammation.
161
Tuberculosis
chronic bacterial infection by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
162
Ulcer
a full thickness breach of a mucosal surface or of the epidermis.
163
Ulcerative colitis
one of the two forms of idiopathic chronic inflammatory bowel disease
characterised by colonic mucosal inflammation extending proximally in a continuous fashion from an involved rectum.
164
Varix
a dilated vein.
165
Villous
finger-like projections, typically used to describe the arrangement of epithelial cells in projections around fine vascular cores.
166
What are the 4 types of cellular adaptation?
hypertrophy (increased cell size)
hyperplasia (increased cell number)
metaplasia (the replacement of one cell type by another)
atrophy (reduction in size of cells, tissues or
organs).
167
What are the two most common forms of amyloid?
1) AL amyloid composed of immunoglobulin light chains produced by plasma cell neoplasms such as multiple myeloma and
2) AA amyloid composed of serum amyloid---associated protein produced in increased amounts by the liver in chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
168
Why does both the pulmonary lymphatics and lymph nodes appear black to the naked eye?
Collection of carbon in macrophages of city dwellers or coal miners
169
Dilated veins in the anorectal region
haemorrhoids.
170
Causes of bronchiectasis
Bronchial obstruction by tumour, tuberculosis or mucus in cystic fibrosis causing recurrent necrotising
infections.
171
Consequences of cardiac tamponade
impairs
| cardiac filling and thus cardiac output
172
dystrophic Calcification
occurring in necrotic, inflamed or otherwise damaged tissue
173
metastatic calficiation
secondary calcification to hypercalcaemia
174
common cause of cerebral infarction
thromboembolism
175
What type of necrosis do cerebral infarcts undergo?
liquefactive
176
What is a nonspecific feature of end stage liver disease?
cirrhosis
177
What are some causes of cirrhosis?
```
alcohol
viral hepatitis B and C
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
autoimmune hepatitis
primary biliary cirrhosis
primary sclerosing cholangitis
haemochromatosis
Wilson’s disease
```
178
What is the most common part of the GI tract that Crohn's disease affect?
ileum and the colon
179
hallmark pathological features of Crohn’s disease?
transmural inflammation
deep ulcers with a fissuring quality
formation of granulomas
180
Where are diverticulum most commonly found?
sigmoid colon
181
What are the components of granulation tissue?
capillaries, fibroblasts, varying amounts of collagen over time, and inflammatory cells.
