This document provides an introduction to the field of pathology. It defines pathology as the scientific study of disease and notes its two main branches: general pathology, which examines basic cellular reactions to stimuli, and systemic pathology, which examines organ-specific responses. It describes the main subdivisions or specialties within pathology and explains key aspects of disease processes, including etiology, pathogenesis, morphologic changes, and clinical manifestations. Finally, it outlines the components and design of the pathology course.

1. MODULE – 1
(Introduction to Pathology)

2. LEARNING SCHEDULE – 1
(Introduction to pathology)

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES – (LS-1):
1. Define pathology.
2. Understand the importance of Pathology.
3. Explain the different branches of pathology.
4. Describe the different subspecialties in the field of
Pathology.
5. Describe the different aspects disease processes; Aetiology,
Pathogenesis, Morphology and Clinical features.
6. Understand the organization and outline of this course.
INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY

4. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
What is Pathology?
•Pathology is the study of disease by scientific
methods.
•The word pathology came from the Latin words
“pathos” & “logos”.
•‘Pathos’ means disease and ‘logos’ means study,
therefore pathology is a scientific study of disease.
•It focuses on the structural, biochemical, and
functional changes in cells, tissues, and
organs in disease

5. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY

6. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
Branches of pathology
1. General Pathology
2. Systemic pathology.
• General pathology- is concerned with the basic
reactions of cells and tissues to abnormal stimuli
that underlie all diseases.
• Systemic pathology- examines the specific
responses of specialized organs and tissues to more
or less well- defined stimuli

7. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
Subdivisions of pathology
• 1. ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY
• 2. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
• 3. CYTOPATHOLOGY
• 4. HAEMATOLOGY
• 5. MICROBIOLOGY
• 6. CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY
• 7. IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
• 8. MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY

8. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
1. ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY
• Studies the effect of disease on the structure of body organs,
both as a whole (grossly) and microscopically.
• Surgical specimens, autopsies, microscopic slides of tissue
2. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
• Involves application of pathological methods in investigation
of a crime and of sudden, suspicious or unexplained deaths.
• Autopsies, microscopic slides of tissue samples, toxicology.

9. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
3. CYTOPATHOLOGY
• Examines cells from various body sites to determine the
cause or the nature of disease
• Exfoliative cytology and Fine needle aspiration cytology
(FNAC)
4. HAEMATOLOGY
• Deals with the diseases of blood and blood related
components

10. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
5.MICROBIOLOGY
• The study of disease causing micro-organisms
• Micro-organisms include viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites
6. CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY
• Involves the biochemical investigation of bodily fluids such
as blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

11. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
7. IMMUNOLOGY
• Study of immune responses associated with diseases
• Includes immunosuppressive disorders, hypersensitivity
diseases and autoimmune disorders
8. MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
• Is an emerging discipline within pathology which is focused
in the study and diagnosis of disease through the
examination of molecules within organs, tissues or bodily
fluids

12. Disease
process
Etiolog
y
Pathogenes
is
Clinical
manifestation
s
Molecular
and
morphologic
changes
EP
MC

13. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
Etiology
• Etiology of a disease means the cause of the disease.
• There are two major classes of etiologic factors;
Genetic (primary) and Acquired (secondary).
• When the cause of a particular disease is not known it is
referred to as being idiopathic

14. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
• Pathogenesis
• Pathogenesis means the mechanism through
which the cause operates to produce the pathological and
clinical manifestations or structural and functional
abnormalities
The incubation period is the time
between exposure to an infectious
agent and onset of symptoms

15. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
Morphologic Changes
• The morphologic changes refer to the structural alterations
in cells or tissues that occur following the pathogenetic
mechanisms.
• The structural changes in the organ can be seen with the
naked eye or they may only be seen under the microscope.
• GROSS MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES & MICROSCOPIC
CHANGES

16. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
Clinical Manifestations.
• The morphologic changes in the organ influence the normal
function of the organ.
• By doing so, they determine the clinical features (symptoms
and signs), course, and prognosis of the disease.

17. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
• In summary, pathology studies:-

18. COURSE COMPONENTS
1.Anatomic pathology (Forms the bulk of the course)
-General pathology
-Systemic pathology
Recommended book: Robbins Basic Pathology. 10th
edition
2. Chemical Pathology
3. Haematology
NB Microbiology will run as an entirely separate course

19. COURSE DESIGN
• Theory and practical.
1.Theory
- Power point based lectures
-Tutorials
-Seminars
2. Practical
- Autopsies
- Gross examination of surgical specimens
- Histologic examination microscopic slides

20. INTRODUCTION TO PATHOLOGY
LEARNING OUTCOMES – (LS-1): A the end of this session:
1. The student must be able to define pathology.
2. The student must understand the importance of Pathology.
3. The student must be able to explain the different branches of pathology.
4. The student must be able to describe the different subspecialties in the
field of Pathology.
5. The student must be able to describe the different aspects disease
processes; Aetiology, Pathogenesis, Morphology and Clinical features.
6. The student must understand the organization and outline of this course.