This document provides an introduction to the field of pathology. It defines pathology as the scientific study of changes in the structure and function of the body in disease. The key points covered include: 1. Pathology is divided into general pathology and systemic pathology. 2. The main subspecialties of pathology discussed are histopathology, surgical pathology, forensic pathology, cytopathology, molecular pathology, and medical genetics. 3. The document explains the nomenclature of disease terms using prefixes, roots, and suffixes derived mainly from Greek and Latin. 4. The four aspects of disease progression covered are etiology, pathogenesis, morphologic changes, and clinical manifestations.

1. Introduction to
pathology
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‫عبيرالشيخي‬

2. Intended Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this lecture , you will be able to:
1. Define pathology and disease
2. Enumerate the pathology subspecialties
3. Understand the nomenclature of disease
4. Apply the prefixes, root and suffixes
5. Explain the four aspects of disease progression
:eitiology, pathogenesis, morphologic changes and
clinical manifestations
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Introduction to pathology

3. • The word ‘Pathology’ is derived from two Greek words
– Pathos (meaning suffering/disease)
– logos (meaning study)
• Pathology is scientific study of changes in the structure
and function of the body in disease
• Study of diseases
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Definition of pathology/disease
Introduction to pathology

4. “your practice of medicine will be as good as is
your understanding of pathology” Sir William Osler
‘Father of Modern Medicine’
• What is disease? In simple language, dis-ease is opposite
of health (what is not healthy is disease)
• Disease or an illness means a condition marked by
pronounced deviation from the normal healthy state
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Introduction to pathology

5. Traditionally the study of pathology is divided into
• General Pathology: dealing with general principles of
disease
• Systemic Pathology: that includes study of diseases
relating to the specific organs and body systems
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The pathology subspecialties
Introduction to pathology

6. Subspecialties of pathology:
• Histopathology: used synonymously with Anatomic
pathology
– Gross or macroscopic changes
– Microscopic changes
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The pathology subspecialties
Introduction to pathology
Morphology

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8. • Anatomic pathology includes 3 main subdivisions:
– Surgical pathology : the study of tissues removed from the
living body
• Paraffin embedding techniques
• Frozen section
– Forensic pathology : study of organs and tissues removed at
postmortem
– Cytopathology : the study of individual cells
• Exfoliative cytology: study of cells shed off from the
lesions
• Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of superficial and
deep-seated lesions for diagnosis
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The pathology subspecialties
Introduction to pathology

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13. • Molecular pathology:
– To clarify the mechanisms of disease by identifying molecular
and pathway alterations
– Now, the availability of molecular techniques is not only for
research purposes but also as a tool in diagnostic pathology
• Medical genetics: deals with the relationship between
heredity and disease
• Chemical pathology
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The pathology subspecialties
Introduction to pathology

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15. • Although medical terms have been drawn from many
languages, a large majority are from Greek and Latin
• Prefix: is a group of letters attached to the beginning of
a word to partly demonstrate its definition (Pre means
before)
• Root: is a base or stem of a word that conveys
meaning
• Suffix: is a group of letters added to the end of a word
to adjust its meaning
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The nomenclature of disease
Prefixes, root and suffixes
Introduction to pathology

16. Prefixes
• a-, an- = deficiency, lack or weakness
– a-pathy- = lack of feeling
– an-esthesia- = lack of sensation
• anti- = against, opposed to, opposite of
– Anti-septic- = against infection
• dys- = bad, difficult, defective
– Dys-pepsia- = bad digestion
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Introduction to pathology

17. Prefixes
• ec-, ex- = out, out of, outward
– Ec-topic- = out of place
– Ex-ophthalmos- = eye (bulging) out
• hyper- = over, above, excessive
– Hyper-emia- = excessive blood
– Hyper-trophy- = excessive growth
• pro- = before, forward, in
– Pro-phylaxis- = advance protection
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Introduction to pathology

18. Suffix
• -itis = inflammatory disease
– Appendic-itis
– Arthr-itis
– Bronch-itis
• -oid = a resemblance to the object designated in the
main word
– Typh-oid-like typhus fever
– Thy-oid-the shield like gland (thyreos-shield)
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Introduction to pathology

19. • Etiology: is the initiating cause of a disease
• Pathogenesis: the sequence of molecular, biochemical,
and cellular events that lead to the development of
disease
• Morphologic changes: the structural alterations in cells
or tissues that are characteristic of a disease and hence
diagnostic of an etiologic process
• Clinical features/manifestations: signs and symptoms
of disease, (the functional features of a disease),
example: pain and fever
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Aspects of disease progression
Introduction to pathology

20. • Robbins basic pathology, 10th edition,2018
• Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Copyright © 2020 by Saunders,
an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
• Textbook of Pathology, Seventh Edition. Copyright © 2015, Harsh Mohan
References
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21. Thank you
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