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Introduction

Pathology is the scientific study of changes in body structure and function due to disease, derived from Greek words meaning suffering and study. It encompasses abnormalities in anatomy and physiology, while pathophysiology focuses on disordered function and biochemical changes in diseases. Understanding pathology is crucial for medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases effectively.

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6 views6 pages

Introduction

Pathology is the scientific study of changes in body structure and function due to disease, derived from Greek words meaning suffering and study. It encompasses abnormalities in anatomy and physiology, while pathophysiology focuses on disordered function and biochemical changes in diseases. Understanding pathology is crucial for medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases effectively.

Uploaded by

pinkaljethwa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PATHOLOGY

● The word ‘Pathology’ is derived from two Greek words—


pathos (meaning suffering) and logos (meaning study).
● Pathology is, thus, scientific study of changes in the structure
and function of the body in disease.
● In other words, pathology consists of the abnormalities in
normal anatomy (including histology) and normal physiology
owing to disease.
● Another commonly used term with reference to study of
diseases is ‘pathophysiology’ (patho=suffering,
physiology=study of normal function).
● Pathophysiology, thus, includes study of disordered function
(i.e. physiological changes) and breakdown of homeostasis in
diseases (i.e. biochemical changes).

● Therefore, knowledge and understanding of pathology is


essential for all would- be doctors, as well as general medical
practitioners and specialists because unless they have
knowledge and understanding of the language in the form of
pathology laboratory reports, they would not be able to
institute appropriate treatment or suggest preventive
● HEALTH AND DISEASE:
● In simple language, Disease is opposite of health i.e. what
is not healthy is disease.
● Health may be defined as a condition when the individual
is in complete accord with the surroundings, while disease
is loss of ease (or comfort) to the body (i.e. dis+ease).
● The term syndrome (meaning running together) is used
for a combination of several clinical features caused by
altered physiologic processes.
● COMMON TERMS IN PATHOLOGY:

● Patient is the person affected by disease.


● Lesions are the characteristic changes in tissues and cells
produced by disease in an individual or experimental animal.
● Pathologic changes or morphology consist of examination of
diseased tissues.
● These can be recognised with the naked eye (gross or
macroscopic changes) or studied by microscopic
examination of tissues.
● Causal factors responsible for the lesions are included in
● Mechanism by which the lesions are produced is termed
pathogenesis of disease (i.e. ‘how’ of disease).
● Functional implications of the lesion felt by the patient are
symptoms and those discovered by the clinician are the
physical signs.
● Clinical significance of the morphologic and functional
changes together with results of other investigations help to
arrive at an answer to what is wrong (diagnosis).
● what is going to happen (prognosis).
● what can be done about it (treatment).
● Finally what should be done to avoid complications and
spread (prevention) (i.e. ‘what’ of disease).

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