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Introduction to General Pathology (view source)
Revision as of 07:09, 7 September 2016
, 07:09, 7 September 2016Reverted edits by DrNdaba (talk) to last revision by Bara
==Introduction==
==Introduction==
The term '''pathology''' is derived from '''Pathos''', or suffering and '''Logos''', or reasoning/logic. Pathology is defined as the study of disease including:
The term '''pathology''' is derived from '''Pathos''', or suffering and '''Logos''', or reasoning/logic. Pathology is defined as the study of disease including:
===Description of Lesions===
===Description of Lesions===
[[Recognition and Description of Lesions - Pathology|Descriptions of lesions]] are very important. Whole organs, tissues or individual lesions are described under headings such as:
[[Recognition and Description of Lesions|Descriptions of lesions]] are very important. Whole organs, tissues or individual lesions are described under headings such as:
# Size
# Size
# Shape
# Shape
==Pathological changes to cells==
==Pathological changes to cells==
Degenerations and infiltrations are the morphological manifestation of an altered metabolism within the cell.
Generally, disruptions at a cellular level usually involve changes or damage to the cells themselves, or they involve the presence of unexpected material within the cell, such as [[Pigmentation - Pathology|pigments]] or [[Mineralisation_-_Pathology#Calcification|calcified material]]. When cells begin to [[:Category:Degenerations and Infiltrations|degenerate]] or become [[:Category:Degenerations and Infiltrations|infiltrated]] by foreign material then cellular metabolism has been disrupted. The alteration in the structure of the cell can be suggestive of the metabolic abnormality that has occurred, and result in the cellular parameters extending beyond the normal physiological range for the cell.
There are several [[Cell Growth Disorders|changes in the size of cells]] and their respective organs that are commonly seen in pathological states:
*'''Atrophy''' is a decrease in the size of the cells and respective organ(s), occurring after the organ has reached it's normal size.
*'''Hypertrophy''' is an increase in the size of an organ due to an increase in size of the individual cells.
*'''Hypoplasia''' is a reduction in the size of cells and tissues due to a failure to grow to the normal size which ranges from mild hypoplasia to almost complete absence. Almost complete absence is also called vestigial or rudimentary.
*'''Aplasia''' and '''agensis''' refer to complete absence of tissue.
*'''Hyperplasia''' is an increase in the size of an organ due to an increase in the numbers of cells present within it. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia may occur concurrently.
[[Disorders of Cell Growth - Pathology]]
*'''Metaplasia''' is a transformation of one type of tissue into another and occurs solely in connective tissue and epithelium.
[[Necrosis - Pathology]]
*'''Dysplasia''' is abnormal growth within a tissue
*'''Anaplasia''' is a marked and irreversible loss of cellular differentiation with return to a more primitive state, which can be a feature of highly malignant tumours.
*'''Neoplasia''' is a serious disturbance of growth of tissues
The final pathological process that occurs at a cellular level is [[Necrosis - Pathology|necrosis]], which is the death of cells within the living body.
Two things happen when [[Necrosis - Pathology|necrosis]] occurs:
#Further changes can take place in the tissue itself.
#The surrounding unaffected living tissue can react to the necrotic tissue.
==Disease==
==Disease==
Several types of changes are encountered at post-mortem examination.
Several types of changes are encountered at post-mortem examination.
* Those due to the '''disease''', including [[Recognition and Description of Lesions - Pathology|visible lesions]]
* Those due to the '''disease''', including [[Recognition and Description of Lesions|visible lesions]]
*Those occurring '''immediately prior to death''', known as [[Post-Mortem Change - Pathology#Agonal Changes|agonal changes]]
*Those occurring '''immediately prior to death''', known as [[Post-Mortem Change - Pathology#Agonal Changes|agonal changes]]
* Those occurring '''after death''', or [[Post-Mortem Change - Pathology|post-mortem]]
* Those occurring '''after death''', or [[Post-Mortem Change - Pathology|post-mortem]]
* '''Bacteriology/ Virology/ Parasitology'''; these techniques allow the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites.
* '''Bacteriology/ Virology/ Parasitology'''; these techniques allow the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites.
* '''Toxicology'''; analysis of tissues for particular poisons and toxins.
* '''Toxicology'''; analysis of tissues for particular poisons and toxins.
[[Category:General Pathology|A]]