Pathology - Level 1

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general pathology

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the study of the general reactions of cells and tissues to insults and injuries that are basic to all disease processes

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systemic pathology

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the study of specific disease processes or reactions as they affect particular organs or organ systems

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etiology

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cause

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pathogenesis

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pathologic, physiologic, or biochemical mechanism resulting in the development of a disease

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morphologic alterations

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structural changes induced in cells and tissues of the body

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clinical significance

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functional con¬sequences of the morphologic alterations

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necropsy

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the post-mortem dissection of a body and its structures in order to determine the cause of death and to evaluate the changes produced by disease or by the treatment of disease

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surgical pathology

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examination or study of tissues excised from living patients in an effort to establish a specific diagnosis or to exclude specific disease processes

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cytopathology

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the study of individual cells primarily as a method to detect malignant cells suspended in body fluids, withdrawn by needles, scraped from the surface tissues, or exfoliated

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clinical pathology

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which involves the analysis of body fluids and secretions (whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, feces, spinal fluid, sputum, etc.) to facilitate diagnosis, direct a therapeutic approach, and monitor therapy

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experimental pathology

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involves the study and investigation of the causes and mechanisms of disease

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forensic pathology

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involves the medicolegal investigation of death.

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abrasion

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loss of superficial cells as the result of friction or crushing

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adaptation

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a persistent alteration of the cellular micro-environment may alter cellular morphology and/or function (i.e. atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia)

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aplasia

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lack of development of an organ or tissue

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apoptotic bodies

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membrane bound fragments that the cell breaks up into during apoptosis

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atrophy

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decrease in the size or number of individual cells. Results from a variety of conditions that restrict either oxygenation, nutrition, or stimulation of the cell

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avulsion

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tearing away of body parts

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bilirubin

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green-brown pigment that is also a breakdown product of hemoglobin but does no contain iron. Major pigment of bile

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brown atrophy

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a brown discoloration of the tissue (heart and liver) caused by the accumulation of the lipofuscin pigment

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cell injury

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may be due to excessive production of normal metabolic byproducts within the cell, an inability of the cell to excrete normal cellular products, an accumulation of abnormal metabolic products within the cell, or an increased incorporation of exogenous material into the cell. Usually a transient and reversible change, but can be toxic and result in cell death

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cellular swelling

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seen after injuries that interfere with plasma membrane permeability. The cell appears enlarged with a pale cytoplasm but a normally positioned nucleus

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chromatin

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finely dispersed DNA found throughout the nucleus of a non-dividing cell

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contusion

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disruption of blood vessels produced by blunt force

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crepitant

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present in "gas gangrene" caused by clostridium bacteria which ferment carbohydrates to produce carbon dioxide. The tissue appears much like wet gangrene but is also crepitant to palpation

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cytoplasm

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contains a cytoskeleton consisting of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules which maintain cell structure and allow for cell mobility and also contains cytosol

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cytoplasmic changes

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eosinophilia and homogenization of the cytoplasm is due to loss of cytoplasmic RNA and to the disaggregation of polysomes and denaturation of cytoplasmic proteins

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cytosol

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an amorphous ground substance consisting of water and soluble nutrients, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins that helps make up the cytoplasm in a cell

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dysplasia

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atypical or abnormal (potentially reversible) growth of cells that is usually induced by chronic irritation or stimulation - generally regarded as a potential precursor to malignant neoplasia which is a permanent abnormal growth of cells

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endoplasmic reticulum

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organelle that consists of a complex of internal cellular membranes that bridge the cytoplasm from the nucleus to the plasma membrane. RER is responsible for manufacturing proteins (assoc w/ ribosomes) and SER functions to metabolize drugs, hormones, and to synthesize steroid hormones

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eosinophilia

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redness

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epithelial cell

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cover the external and internal surfaces of the body, including the inner lining of the vessels and small spaces. They are born from the exoderm and endoderm (embryonic layers) and they always lie on a basement membrane.

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Golgi apparatus

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organelle responsible for producing the building blocks of cellular membranes and for "packaging" proteins

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homeostasis

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the ability of cells to maintain structural and functional stability in the face of a constantly changing micro environment

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hyperplasia

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an increase in the number of cells usually in response to increased hormonal or growth factor stimulation (the gravid uterus). May sometimes be closely associated w/ neoplasia

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hypertrophy

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increase in the size of individual cells in response to an increased functional demand. Progressive or persistently increased resistance will\ ultimately result in cell failure

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hypoplasia

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underdevelopment of an organ or tissue and are therefore developmental disorders rather than adaptive responses

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incision

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cuts produced by a sharp instrument

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ischemia

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a reduction in blood flow to the cells, insufficient vascular supply of oxygen

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karyolysis

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chromatin dissolution

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karyorrhexis

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chromatin fragmentation

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laceration

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the tearing of tissue resulting from excessive stretching

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lysosomes

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organelles derived from the Golgi apparatus and consist of powerful digestive enzymes aka "garbage disposals"

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melanin

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brown-black pigment that is produced by melanocytes and in specific areas of the brain (neuromelanin)

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metaplasia

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a substitution of one mature cell type for another mature cell type. Its\'s a process in which a new harsher environment induces a change to a more protective tissue type (such as stratified squamous epithelium replacing ciliated columnar epithelium in the lungs of smokers)

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mitochondria

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"power plants", organelles that supply the energy needed to fuel all of the other activities of the cell - produced in the form of ATP

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neoplasia

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Abnormal growth of cells, which may lead to a neoplasm, or tumor

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nucleus

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contains all of the genetic information encoded in the DNA

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pathogenesis

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the mechanism by which the disease is caused

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plasma membrane

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an active, metabolic, living structure which is essential for cell viability and which requires a significant amount of energy to maintain in functional order

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pyknosis

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chromatin condensation

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ribonucleic acid

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essential for the translation of the genetic information into functional protein products

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ribosomes

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consist of aggregates of ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Present in the cytoplasm or attached to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. They are essential in translating DNA into proteins

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Anasarca

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interstitial edema that is a diffuse process involving all tissues of the body

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Petechiae

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means pinpoint. Hemorrhages into skin, mucous membranes, or serosal surfaces. <1.0 cm

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Ecchymosis

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hemorrhages into skin, mucous membranes , or serosal surfaces that are >1.0 cm

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Epistaxis

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blood from the nose

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Hemoptysis

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coughing of blood from lungs

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Hematemesis

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vomiting of blood

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Melena

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dark tarry blood in the stool

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Hematochezia

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bright red blood in the stool

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Hemostasis

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the body's intrinsic ability to sow down or stop hemorrhage