General Pathology and Histopathologic Techniques Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering histopathology, cellular growth abnormalities, adaptations, cell injury, death, inflammation, neoplasia, and autopsy techniques.

Cilia

Motile, long projectors found on cells.

Stereocilia

Non-motile projectors used for the absorption of nutrients.

Microvilia

Non-mobile projectors that absorb nutrients; also known as the brush or striated border.

Goblets cell

Cells that produce mucus and line the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Merocrine

A method of secretion with no loss of cytoplasm, exemplified by goblet cells and sweat glands.

Apocrine

A method of secretion involving cytoplasmic loss, exemplified by mammary glands.

Holocrine

A method of secretion involving the complete breakdown of the cell, exemplified by sebaceous glands.

Neuroglia

Also called 'nerve glue'; cells that provide support, protection, and insulation for neurons.

Pathology

The study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs that underlie disease.

Etiology

The study of the cause of a disease.

Labile cells

A class of cells that undergo frequent division to replace lost cells.

Stable cells

Cells with a definite pattern of replication, where lost cells are replaced by the mitotic activity of others.

Permanent cells

Non-replicating cells.

Aplasia

Incomplete or defective tissue development.

Agenesia

The non-appearance of an organ.

Hypoplasia

The failure of an organ to reach or achieve its full mature or adult size.

Atresia

The failure of an organ to form an opening.

Atrophy

Shrinkage in the size of the cell by loss of cell substance, often characterized by autophagic granules.

Hypertrophy

Increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in organ size without the creation of new cells.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, leading to increased size.

Metaplasia

A reversible change in which one cell type is replaced by another cell type; for example, squamous to columnar in Barret's Esophagus.

Dysplasia

Also known as atypical hyperplasia; abnormal growth and differentiation characterized by variations in size, shape, and orientation.

Anaplasia

An irreversible change of a cell or tissue from a more differentiated to a less differentiated (undifferentiated) form.

Ischemia

Decreased perfusion of tissues by oxygen-carrying blood.

Lipofucsin

A yellowish fat-soluble pigment and product of membrane peroxidation, known as 'wear and tear pigment' seen in the elderly.

Plumbism

The accumulation of the exogenous pigment lead.

Argyria

The accumulation of the exogenous pigment silver.

Metastatic Calcification

Pathologic calcification caused by hypercalcemia.

Dystrophic Calcification

Calcification in previously damaged tissue, such as tuberculosis lesions or heart valves.

Pyknosis

Nuclear shrinkage and increased basophilia during cell death.

Karyolysis

The nuclear fading seen in cell death caused by the non-specific breakdown of DNA.

Karyorrhexis

Nuclear fragmentation during the process of cell death.

Coagulative Necrosis

A type of necrosis where cell outlines are maintained and tissue remains firm; commonly seen in myocardial infarction.

Liquefactive Necrosis

Necrosis characterized by complete destruction of cells and liquefaction of tissue; seen in brain infarctions.

Caseous Necrosis

A 'cheesy and white' pattern of necrosis typically seen in tuberculosis.

Fat Necrosis

Focal areas of fat destruction due to the release of pancreatic lipases, appearing chalky white.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that involves an internally programmed series of events without an inflammatory reaction.

Algor Mortis

The cooling of the body after death to equalize with the environment at a rate of approximately $7^{\circ}F/\text{hr}$.

Rigor Mortis

The stiffening of the body after death, starting after 2-3 hours and completing at 6-8 hours.

Livor Mortis

Discoloration of the body caused by the stasis and eventual settling of blood into dependent parts.

Putrefaction

The rotting or decomposition of the body caused by bacterial action.

Autolysis

The self-digestion of cells caused by the liberation of hydrolytic enzymes.

Dolor

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to pain.

Calor

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to heat.

Rubor

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to redness.

Tumor

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to swelling.

Functio laesa

The cardinal sign of inflammation referring to loss of function.

Exudate

A type of edema fluid with increased specific gravity and cellular content that escapes the vascular system into tissues.

Transudate

A type of edema fluid with decreased specific gravity and low cell content, often seen in congestive heart failure.

Granuloma

A focal aggregation of activated macrophages transformed into epithelioid cells, often containing Langhan's Giant Cells.

Oncology

The study of tumors or neoplasms.

Parenchyma

The proliferating neoplastic cells which constitute the functional part of a tumor.

Stroma

The supportive part of a tumor consisting of connective tissue and blood vessels.

Metastasis

Tumor implants that are discontinuous with the primary tumor; the most reliable sign of malignancy.

Grading

Evaluation of a tumor based on the degree of differentiation of tumor cells and the number of mitoses.

Staging

Evaluation of a tumor based on the size of the primary lesion (T), nodal involvement (N), and presence of metastases (M).

Excisional Biopsy

The complete removal of a tumor, considered the most reliable biopsy type.

Incisional Biopsy

The partial removal of a tumor, preferred for large tumors that cannot be excised completely.

Autopsy

The systematic examination of a cadaver to determine the cause of death; also called necropsy or post mortem.

Virchow's Technique

An autopsy technique where organs are removed one by one.

Letulle's Technique

An autopsy technique where organs are removed en masse.

Average Weight of Male Brain

$$1400\,g$$

Average Weight of Male Heart

$$300\,g$$