TRISTAN ANGELO M.

CALAQUIAN,
MD

INTRODUCTION
TO PATHOLOGY

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OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lecture, the student shall be able to:
1. Define pathology.
2. Classify pathology.
3. Explain the inter-relationship of pathology with other medical
sciences.
4. Discuss the common procedures in the pathologic
examinations of cells, tissues and body fluids.
5. Enumerate and define the four aspects of a disease process.

DEFINITION OF
PATHOLOGY

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DEFINITION OF PATHOLOGY
Pathology is the discipline that involves the investigation of
the causes of disease and associated changes at the levels of
cells, tissues, and organs.
Comes from the word pathos meaning suffering (disease) and
logos (study).
Classified into:

General pathology

Systemic pathology

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DEFINITION OF PATHOLOGY
Pathology is a bridging discipline, forms the link between
basic sciences and clinical sciences, leading to better
understanding of diseases.
Better understanding of the mechanism of diseases more
effective interventions and treatment.
Pathology is the foundation of medical science and practice.
Without pathology, the practice of medicine would be
reduced to myths and folklore.

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BRANCHES OF PATHOLOGY
A. Anatomic pathology
1. Surgical pathology
2. Autopsy
3. Cytopathology
B. Clinical pathology
1. Clinical Chemistry
2. Hematology
3. Immunohematology (Blood banking)
4. Microbiology (Bacteriology, parasitology, mycology, virology)
5. Serology
C. Forensic pathology
D. Molecular pathology

PROCEDURES
IN PATHOLOGY

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ROUTINE HISTOPATHOLOGY
Fixation

Dehydration
Clearing

Infiltration

Embedding
Sectioning
Mounting
Staining

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OTHER PROCEDURES
Cytology - cytopathology
Immunohistochemistry
Rapid frozen section

ETIOLOGY
PATHOGENESIS
MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES
FUNCTIONAL DERANGEMENTS

THE DISEASE PROCESS

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FOUR ASPECTS OF DISEASE PROCESS

Etiology - origin of a disease (Why a disease arises).

Pathogenesis - describes how etiologic factors trigger cellular and

molecular changes that give rise to a specific functional and
structural abnormality. (How a disease develops.)
Morphologic changes - describes structural changes that results
from the disease (both macroscopic and microscopic).
(Molecular, biochemical, immunologic changes)
Functional derangement - consequences of the morphologic
change.

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ETIOLOGY
Environmental agents

Physical (trauma, heat, ionizing radiation)

Chemical (toxins)

Nutritional (over or undernutrition)

Infectious (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites)

Psychological? (Change in a person's habit)

Age

Genetics (inherited genes that directly or indirectly cause disease)

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PATHOGENESIS
Sequence of events

Describes how the cell and tissues respond to a

stimulus/pathogen (etiology).
Cellular, molecular, biochemical, physiologic mechanisms.

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MORPHOLOGY
Structural and associated functional changes in cells, tissues
and organs that are characteristic of the disease or
condition.

FUNCTIONAL DERANGEMENTS
Deviations from the normal function of a cell, tissue or organ that results
from the morphologic changes brought about by the cellular, biochemical
and molecular events provoked by the etiologic agent.
Clinical significance.