General Pathology
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An Introduction to General Pathology
- The term pathology is derived from:
- Pathos, or suffering
- Logos, or reasoning/logic.
- Pathology is defined as the study of disease including:
- Aetiology - causal factor(s)
- Pathogenesis - the development of the disease within the body.
- Lesions - the observable structural changes in the tissues and fluids of the body.
- Pathophysiology - the functional changes in diseased tissues.
- Sequel - the consequences of the disease in the body.
- Remote effects - the effect of disease in one tissue on other tissues in the body.
Lesions
- Lesions are the abnormalities or changes seen in living tissues due to disease.
- Observed in
- The live animal
- Tissues surgically removed from the live animal
- Biopsy/ excision
- Animals soon after death
- Necropsy, post-mortem examination.
Decription of Lesions
- Descriptions of lesions is very important
- Whole organs, tissues or individual lesions are described under headings such as
- Size
- Shape
- Colour
- Weight
- Generally in relation to body weight
- Texture and Consistency
- Appearance of the cut surface
- Contents of hollow organs
- Position, relationships and effects on adjacent tissues
Disease
Definition and Type
A definite morbid (illness producing) process having a characteristic train of symptoms or signs: it may affect the whole body or any of its parts and its aetiology, pathology and prognosis may be known or unknown. Disease can be divided into two main categories 1. Acute - of sudden onset and short duration Outcome - a. causes death of the animal, or - b. resolves due to host defence response or clinical therapy, or - c. becomes chronic disease 2. Chronic - of insidious onset and protracted course Outcome - a. progressively destroys tissue compromising its function and endangering life, or - b. its course is halted and the tissue repairs by scarring