Pathology Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms from the Pathology lecture.

Pathology

The study of disease by scientific means, elucidating its causes and effects.

Biopsy

A sample of body tissue taken during life to aid in diagnosis.

Autopsy

Examination of body/organs after death to aid in determination of the cause of death.

Histopathology

Detection of structural abnormalities in tissues.

Cytology

Detection of structural abnormalities in cells.

Exfoliative Biopsy

Examination of secretions, tissue scraping for detection of cancerous cells

Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA)

Extracting cells from a suspected mass.

Haematology

Detection of blood and bone marrow abnormalities.

Biochemistry

Detection of abnormalities in body chemistry.

Microbiology

Detection of infectious disease.

Immunoserology

Detection of immune disease/status & infectious disease.

Molecular Pathology

Detection of abnormalities at molecular level (gene and gene products).

Medical Genetics

Detection of inherited disease.

Differential diagnosis

Clinician lists possible diseases that may cause the symptoms and signs.

Presumptive diagnosis

An initial diagnosis is made.

Definitive diagnosis

Following test results, a final diagnosis is made.

Prognosis

A forecast is made on the probable course and outcome of the disease.

Remission

State of absence of disease activity in patients with a chronic illness, with the possibility of return.

Relapse

State of renewed disease activity following the end of a remission.

Aetiology

The cause of a disease.

Pathogenesis

How the aetiology brings about the disease (the course of disease).

Cytogenetic Disorders

Chromosomal defects (structure/number).

Mendelian Disorders

Due to gene defects.

Multifactorial Inheritance Disorders

Often involve many genes (polygenic). May have an environmental influence.

Congenital Malformations

DNA expression errors.

Acquired Disease

Due to environmental factors.

Trauma

Physical disruption to tissue.

Sublethal Injury

Mild injury to tissues.

Hydropic change

Membrane ion pumps failing (cells accumulate water & electrolytes – ‘cloudy swelling’).

Fatty Change

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) damaged (fat metabolism stops, cytoplasm accumulates fat droplets – ‘signet ring’).

Glycogen depletion

Mitochondria damaged. Cell begins to produce more ATP anaerobically and demonstrate loss of glycogen.

Autophagy

Lysosomes damaged. Lytic enzymes released in pockets of cytoplasm.

Necrosis

Death of cells while still part of the living body.

Ischaemia

Interrupted blood supply.

Infarction

Necrosis from ischaemia.

Pyknosis

Nucleus shrinks and condenses.

Karyorrhexis

Nucleus fragments.

Karyolysis

Nuclear fragments dissolve away.

Coagulative Necrosis

Most common; in solid organs. Ischaemia leads to coagulation of proteins.

Colliquative (Liquefactive) Necrosis

Occurs in the brain, or in suppuration (pus formation) due to heterolysis with little coagulation.

Caseous Necrosis

Occurs in tuberculosis (infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Due to hypersensitivity reaction and nature of the bacterium.

Haemorrhagic Necrosis

Result of ischaemia leading to necrotic tissue infiltrated with extravasated red blood cells.

Gummatous Necrosis

Due to infection with Treponema pallidum. Occurs in tertiary syphilis (esp. in CVS & CNS).

Fat Necrosis

Enzymatic type: Occurs only around the pancreas. Associated with adipose tissue injury and release of pancreatic lipases. Traumatic type: Occurs when adipose tissue in any site is injured by trauma.

Fibrinoid Necrosis

Occurs in connective tissue, blood vessel walls in hypertension & autoimmune diseases. Collagen degenerates, resembles fibrin.

Gangrenous Necrosis

Dark, discoloured, foul smelling tissue. Result of ischaemia & infection of necrotic tissue with anaerobic bacteria, especially Clostridium spp.

Apoptosis

"Shrinkage necrosis" (no inflammation/other degenerative changes). A “controlled” process of cell death, programmed into cells to occur at a certain stage in their life cycle.