Introduction to

PATHOLOGY
Gr: “pathos” = suffering or disease

“logos” = study

Pathology = Study of diseases

Pathology

branch of biological sciences that

deals with the study of all
structural and functional
abnormalities (at the level of cells,
tissues, organs and body fluids) that
take place as a result of a disease
Historical View

The understanding of histopathology

started when a German scientist, Rudolf
Virchow (1821-1902) from the University
of Berlin, started to cut thin sections of
diseased tissues with a razor blade and
examined them using the microscope.
Subdivisions of Pathology

◦ General Pathology – dealing with general principles of

disease
◦ Systemic pathology – deals with the study of diseases
pertaining to specific organs and body systems
Subdivisions of Pathology
◦ Histopathology (diagnostic) – which deals
with the study of tissue abnormalities using
gross and microscopic examination of biopsy
samples

Biopsy – is a tissue sample obtained surgically

from a living body in order to be examined
grossly and microscopically (by a pathologist) to
help in establishing the diagnosis
Subdivisions of Pathology

◦ Cytopathology – deals with the study of cellular changes

◦ Forensic pathology – subspecialty of pathology that that
focuses on the medico-legal investigation of the cause of a
sudden or unexpected death by examination of a dead
body. The term forensics is derived from the Latin word
forensis which means forum (law court)
Subdivisions of Pathology
◦ Clinical pathology clinical pathology concerns the analysis of
blood, urine and tissue samples to examine and diagnose disease.
◦ Chemical Pathology - is the study of chemical and biochemical
mechanisms of the body in relation to disease, mostly through the
analysis of body fluids such as blood or urine.
Subdivisions of Pathology
◦ Genetics - involves performing tests on chromosomes, biochemical
markers and DNA taken from bodily fluids and tissues in order to
detect genetic illnesses.
◦ Hematology - This field is concerned with various different disease
aspects that affect the blood
Subdivisions of Pathology

◦ Immunopathology - study of diseases mediated by immune

reactions. Such as immunodeficiency diseases,
autoimmune diseases and hypersensitivity reactions.
◦ Microbial pathology - concerned with diseases caused by
pathogenic agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and
fungi. 
Terms:
◦ Disease is a condition in which an
individual shows a morphological,
biochemical and/or physiological deviation
from the normal status .
◦ Etiology - refers to the science that deals
with the causes or origin of the disease.
◦ Lesions - refers to abnormal (pathological)
structural and functional changes that occur
in body during a particular disease.
Macroscopical (gross) lesions:

◦ Abnormality in the tissue can be described grossly or by the naked eye

including location, color, size, shape, consistency & appearance of the cut
surface.

Microscopical lesions:
Abnormal morphological changes described under the
microscope, lesions need quantification by using some
general terms like mild, moderate, or severe.
◦ Pathogenesis - step by step
developmental process from the
beginning of the disease to its
termination, or the mechanism by
which the disease is developed.

◦ Pathogenicity - refers to the ability

of a pathogen (usually microbial
pathogens) to cause disease)
◦ Symptom - refers to any evidence of a disease as told by the
patient (in case of human being).
◦ Sign - refers to any evidence of a disease detectable to a
clinician (can be observed by the clinician).
◦ Diagnosis - refers to the art or act of identifying a particular
disease from its signs and symptoms.
◦ Prognosis - prediction of the probable outcome of a disease.
Methods of studying pathology

◦ Gross examination o Biochemical techniques

o Hematological techniques
◦ Light microscopy
o Medical microbiology
◦ Immunochemistry and o Serology
Immunoflourescence o Flowcytometry
◦ Electron microscopy
◦ Molecular biology`
Summary

◦ Pathology is the study of disease, their causes, signs and

symptoms, and the likely outcome.
◦ It is necessary to know the pathogenesis of lesions in
order to make a rational judgment for treatment, control
& prevention of diseases.
◦ https://www.slideshare.net/pen22cute/general-pathology-lecture-1-introduction-cell-injury

◦ https://www.slideshare.net/peddanasunilkumar/introduction-to-pathology-ppt

◦ https://slideplayer.com/slide/12219728/

◦ https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Pathology.aspx

◦ https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachment/6334c9ba-c7c9-4063-8b35-ff3854fe1052/general-pathology-trainee-handbook.aspx
#:~:text=General%20pathology%20involves%20all%20aspects,including%20examination%20of%20the%20patient.

◦ https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/ephti/library/lecture_notes/health_extension_trainees/generalpathology.pdf
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