Introduction to Pathology

Vocabulary terms covering basic pathology definitions, core aspects, clinical observations, and cellular adaptation and death.

Pathology

The study of the changes in cells, tissues, and organs that underlie disease; it serves as a bridge between science and medicine.

Aetiology

One of the four core aspects of pathology referring to the cause of a disease.

Pathogenesis

One of the four core aspects of pathology referring to the mechanism of disease development.

Morphological changes

One of the four core aspects of pathology referring to the structural alterations in cells or tissues.

Clinical manifestations

One of the four core aspects of pathology referring to the signs and symptoms of a disease.

Signs

Objective measures of a patient's condition taken from another person.

Symptoms

Subjective statements regarding a condition provided by the patient.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of a tissue or organ due to the increased size of the cells, without the production of new cells.

Hyperplasia

An increased size of a tissue or organ due to an increase in the number of cells; it can be seen in stable and labile cells.

Atrophy

A reduction in the size of a tissue or organ due to a decrease in both cell size and cell number.

Metaplasia

A reversible change in which one differentiated cell type is replaced by another cell type.

Necrosis

Often described as cell 'homicide,' this process of cell death is usually due to a disease process.

Apoptosis

Often described as cell 'suicide,' this process helps prevent old or tired cells from causing pathology, such as cancer.

Pathologic Ventricular Hypertrophy

An adaptation driven by increased blood pressure or ventricular volume that can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias.

Cellular Adaptation

Changes in cells (such as hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, or metaplasia) that occur when they are exposed to physiologic states or pathologic stimuli.