Chapter One Introduction to Pathology Section A DEFINITION OF PATHOLOGY
Definition of pathology Pathology is to study diseases by scientific methods Disease may be defined as an abnormal alteration of structure or function in any part of the body
Pathology focuses on 4 aspects of disease ETIOLOGY Cause of disease PATHOGENESI Mechanisms of development of disease MORPHOLOGY The structural alterations induced in celll and tissues FUNCTIONAL CONSEQUENCES Functional consequences of the morphologic changes, as observed clinically. Knowledge of etiology remains the backbones Disease diagnoses Understanding the nature of diseases Treatment of diseases
While much still needs to be uncovered to link abnormal genes and the expression of disease, gone are the time when the mechanisms of most diseases were unknown? or obscure? or mysterious?
One etiologic agent--one disease Several etiologic agents one disease. One etiologic agent--several diseases