Pathology is a branch of medical science focused on the study of diseases, their causes, development, and effects on the body, bridging basic science and clinical practice. It involves various subfields such as histopathology, cytopathology, clinical pathology, molecular pathology, and forensic pathology, all essential for disease diagnosis and guiding treatment. Understanding pathology is crucial for nurses as it helps in accurate assessment, development of personalized care plans, and improving communication with other healthcare professionals.

1. PATHOLOGY
Introduction
Pathology in Nursing
Dr. Binu Babu
Ph.D (N)
Professor
Mrs. Jincy Ealias
M.Sc (N)
Professor

2. INTRODUCTION
• Pathology is a branch of medical science that focuses on
the study of diseases, including their causes,
development, progression, and effects on the body.
• Pathology is a vital field that bridges basic science and
clinical practice, crucial in understanding health and
disease. Here are the key aspects of pathology.
• Pathology involves the examination of tissues, organs,
bodily fluids, and autopsies to diagnose diseases.

3. Types of Pathology:
• Pathology encompasses various subfields such as histopathology,
cytopathology, clinical pathology, molecular pathology, and forensic
pathology.
• Histopathology: Study of tissue samples under a microscope to identify
abnormal cells and tissue structure.
• Cytopathology: Analysis of individual cell samples, often used in cancer
diagnosis through techniques like Pap smears.
• Clinical Pathology: Involves laboratory testing of blood, urine, and other body
fluids to diagnose and monitor diseases.
• Molecular Pathology: Focuses on genetic and molecular aspects of diseases,
including DNA, RNA, and protein changes.
• Forensic Pathology: Examination of bodies to determine ca of death, often in
legal contexts.

4. Role in Disease Diagnosis:
• Pathology provides insights into how diseases develop and progress,
including cellular and molecular changes.
• Pathology helps to identify factors that contribute to disease, such as
genetic mutations, infections, environmental exposures, and lifestyle
choices.
• Guiding Treatment:
• Accurate pathological diagnoses guide clinicians in selecting the most
effective treatments for patients.
• Pathology results inform decisions about surgery, medication, radiation
therapy, and other interventions.

5. IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF
PATHOLOGY
• Pathology is a crucial field for nurses as it provides a foundational understanding of
diseases, their causes mechanisms, and effects on the body.
• Understanding pathology helps nurses recognize signs of various diseases leading to
accurate patient assessment
• Support to differentiate similar conditions.
• Accurate Assessment and Diagnosis, symptoms assessments, Knowledge between
• Pathology informs nurses about the progression of diseases, allowing them to
anticipate and address patient needs. proactively.
• Pathology guides the development of personalized care plans based on the specific
pathophysiology of the patient's condition.
• Communication and Collaboration: with the latest medical advancements and apply
them in clinical settings.
• Pathology aids in understanding research studies, evaluating their relevance, and
integrating findings into practice.

6. DEFINITION OF TERMS IN PATHOLOGY
• Biopsy: A medical small sample of tissue microscope to diagnose a
procedure that involves the removal of a from the body for examination
under a disease. individual cells, often used to detect. It includes
techniques like Pap aspirations.
• Cytology: The study of cancer and other diseases smears and fine-
needle
• Histology: The study of the microscopic structure of tissues. It is often
used to identify abnormalities in tissue samples.
• Autopsy: A postmortem examination of a body to determine the cause
of death and study disease processes.

7. • Lesion: Any abnormal change in tissue structure, often
caused by disease or injury. Lesions can be benign or
malignant.
• Neoplasm: An abnormal growth of tissue, which can be
benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
• Inflammation: The body's response to injury or
infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and
pain.

8. • Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the primary site to other
parts of the body, forming secondary tumours.
• Necrosis: The death of cells or tissues within the body due to injury,
infection, or lack of blood supply.
• Hyperplasia: An increase in the number of cells or tissue in an organ,
causing it to enlarge. This can be a normal or abnormal response
• Hypertrophy: An increase in tissue or organ, leading to its enlargement
to increased demand or stimulation
• Atrophy: A decrease in the size or number of cells in a tissue or organ,
often due to disuse, ageing, or disease.

9. • Dysplasia: Abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs,
often a precursor to cancer.
• Carcinoma: A type of line the inside cancer that begins in the epithelial
cells, which and outside surfaces of the body.
• Sarcoma: A type of cancer that originates in the connective tissues, such
as bone, muscle, fat, or cartilage.
• Inflammation: The body's response to injury or infection, characterized
by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
• Embolism: The obstruction of a blood vessel by a foreign substance, such
as a blood clot, air bubble, or fat globule, that has travelled from another
part of the body.

10. • Flow Cytometry: Analysis of cells in fluid samples using special light sources
and detectors.
• Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH): A special cytogenetic procedure in
molecular pathology to identify specific nucleic acid sequences in cellular
nuclei.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) & Liver Pathology: Subspecialties in anatomic pathology
that focus on diseases in the digestive tract and liver.
• Gross Description: An examination based on a description of material that is
visible to the naked eye.
• Gynecological Pathology: A subspecialty area of anatomic pathology that
focuses on diseases of the female genital tract (breast, uterus, fallopian tubes,
ovaries, vagina, and vulva).
• H&E: An abbreviation for hematoxylin and eosin stains, common biological
dyes that give tissue elements distinct colors. These are most often pink, blue,
red, and purple.
• Hematopathology: A subspecialty area of clinical pathology involving the
study of diseases of the blood cells, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes.

11. References
• Suresh K Sharma. Textbook of Pharmacology, Pathology and
Genetics for Nurses (Vol-I) Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
• Swaminathan K, Pathology and Genetics for Nurses, Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers.
• Ramdas Nayak, Sharada Rai & Astha Gupta. Textbook of Pathology
and Genetics for Nurses, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
• Mandal AK & Shramana Choudhary. Comprehensive textbook of
Pathology for Nursing, Avichal Publishers.
• Vinay Kumar, Abbas A K, Aster C J, Robbins & Cotran Pathologic
Basis of Disease, ELSEVIER.