Changes

==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==

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 and Calcification - Pathology|pigments]] or [[Pigmentation_and_Calcification_-_Pathology#Calcification|calcified material]]. When cells begin to [[Degenerations and Infiltrations - Pathology|degenerate]] or become [[Degenerations and Infiltrations - Pathology|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.

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 [[Disorders of Cell Growth - Pathology|changes in the size of cells]] and their respective organs that are commonly seen in pathological states:

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.  

*'''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.  

*'''Hypertrophy''' is an increase in the size of an organ due to an increase in size of the individual cells.  

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.