• The term pathology is defined as the

"scientific study of the molecular,

cellular, tissue, or organ system
response to injurious agents.“
• The study of the structural and
functional changes in cells,
tissues, and organs that underlie
disease.
 LEARNING PATHOLOGY
• Pathology is best learnt in two stages:
• general pathology: the mechanisms and
characteristics of the principal types of
disease process (e.g. inflammation,
tumours, degenerations)
• systematic pathology: the descriptions of
specific diseases as they affect individual
organs or organ systems (e.g. appendicitis,
lung cancer, atheroma).
 Pathological examination
Clinical External
Body
Examination examination
Macroscopically Gross pathology
Organ
(Naked eye) Anatomical path.
Microscopically
Histopathology Tissue
( Light- microscopy)
Ultra-structure
Cell pathology Cell
(Electron- microscopy)
Molecular
Gene analysis Gene
pathology
 HEALTH

•As generally used, the term "health"

refers to the "state in which an
individual is living in complete
harmony with his environment,"
 DISEASE

• Dis + ease (not

at ease…)
• WHO def. as a
"state in which
an individual
exhibits
physiological,
anatomical,
histological
deviation from
the normal."
 Disease Types

• Inflammatory / Neoplastic /
Degenerative
• Acute / Chronic
– Acute – short days to weeks.
– Chronic – long – months to years.
• Congenital / Familial / Acquired
• Mild / Moderate / Severe
 ETIOLOGY
• The term "etiology" refers to a "study of the
cause of a disease." An etiologic agent
responsible for a disease state.
• Predisposing Causes of Diseases: refer to those
factors which make an individual more susceptible
to a disease (damp weather, poor ventilation,
etc.)
• Exciting Causes of Disease: refer to those factors
which are directly responsible for a disease
(bacteria, viruses, hypoxia, chemical agents,
etc.). 
 ?Etiology: What is the cause

• Environmental agents:
– Physical
– Chemical
– Nutritional
– Infections Multifactorial:
– Immunological Diabetes,
– Psychological Hypertension
Cancer
• Genetic Factors:
– Age
– Genes
 Disease Disease
Disease

Disease Disease

One agent  One disease - Malaria

Several agents  One disease - Diabetes
One agent  Several diseases - Smoking
 PATHOGENESIS

• The term “Pathogenesis" refers to

the "progressive development
(sequence of events) of a disease
from the time it is initiated to its
final conclusion in recovery or
death." 
 CLINICAL SIGNS

"Clinical signs" refer to

any "functional and
structural evidence of
disease which can be
determined by the
observer" (lameness,
salivation, increased
respiratory efforts,
etc.).
 Lesion
• The term lesion is generally used to refer to "structural
or morphological alterations associated with a
diseased state in an individual."
• Lesions may be recognized with the naked-eye (gross
lesions).
• with the aid of a light microscope (microscopic
lesions).
• or with the aid of the electron microscope
(ultrastructural lesions).
• Pathognomonic Lesion: refers to a change which is
specifically characteristic of a disease. When one sees a
pathognomonic lesion, he knows that a particular
disease is present. 
 DIAGNOSIS
• The term “Diagnosis" refers to the
"determination of the nature of a disease
expressed in a concise manner.“
• A clinical diagnosis is made on the basis of
clinical signs observed in the living individual. 
• A morphologic or anatomic diagnosis is based on
the location and nature of the lesion.
• Etiologic diagnosis is made on the basis of the
cause.
 PROGNOSIS

• The term “Prognosis" refers to the

probably outcome of a disease in a living
individual. It is the clinician's estimate of
the severity and possible result of a
disease. 
 Subdivisions of Pathology
• Pathology is a vast subject with many ramifications. In practice, however, it
has major subdivisions:
• Histopathology: the investigation and diagnosis of disease from the
examination of tissues.
• Cytopathology: the investigation and diagnosis of disease from the
examination of isolated cells.
• Haematology: the study of disorders of the cellular and coagulable
components of blood.
• Microbiology: the study of infectious diseases and the organisms
responsible for them.
• Immunology: the study of the specific defense mechanisms of the body
• Chemical pathology: the study and diagnosis of disease from the chemical
changes in tissues and fluids
• Genetics: the study of abnormal chromosomes and genes
• Toxicology: the study of the effects of known or suspected poisons
• Forensic pathology: the application of pathology to legal purposes (e.g.
investigation of death in suspicious circumstances).
 Pathology Summary

• “Scientific Study of Disease”

• Study of Pathology
– Etiology: What causes disease?.
– Pathogenesis: How does disease develop?
– Lesion: Structural change in disease?
– Clinical Significance: Link to clinical F?