Pathology

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The study of the nature and cause of diseases and how they affect the body.

What is pathology?

- "Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury."

How is the word "pathology" used in the context of modern medical treatment?

- "When used in the context of modern medical treatment, the term is often used in a narrower fashion to refer to processes and tests that fall within the contemporary medical field of 'general pathology'."

What is the role of a pathologist?

- "A physician practicing pathology is called a pathologist."

What are the components addressed by pathology?

- "Pathology addresses components of disease: cause, mechanisms of development (pathogenesis), structural alterations of cells (morphologic changes), and the consequences of changes (clinical manifestations)."

What does general pathology focus on?

- "In common medical practice, general pathology is mostly concerned with analyzing known clinical abnormalities that are markers or precursors for both infectious and non-infectious disease."

Describe the two major specialties within general pathology.

- "General pathology is conducted by experts in one of two major specialties, anatomical pathology and clinical pathology."

What are some sub-specialties within pathology based on sample types?

- "Comparing, for example, cytopathology, hematopathology, and histopathology."

Are there specific areas of pathology that focus on specific organs?

- "Organs, as in renal pathology."

Is there a specific area of pathology that focuses on physiological systems?

- "Physiological systems, as with oral pathology."

Are there any divisions in pathology based on the focus of the examination?

- "Yes, as with forensic pathology."

How significant is pathology in medical diagnosis and research?

- "Pathology is a significant field in modern medical diagnosis and medical research."

What does the term "pathophysiologies" refer to?

- "In the statement 'the many different forms of cancer have diverse pathologies,' in which case a more proper choice of word would be 'pathophysiologies'."

What does the affix "pathy" indicate?

- "The affix pathy is sometimes used to indicate a state of disease in cases of both physical ailment and psychological conditions."

Can pathology contribute to understanding the development of diseases?

- "Pathology also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices."

What disciplines are involved in the study of pathology?

- "Pathology incorporates a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices."

What is the focus of anatomical pathology?

- "Anatomical pathology is one of the major specialties in general pathology."

What does clinical pathology analyze?

- "Clinical pathology is one of the major specialties in general pathology."

Which practices diagnose disease through analysis of tissue and human cell samples?

- "An area [within general pathology] which includes a number of distinct but inter-related medical specialties that diagnose disease, mostly through analysis of tissue and human cell samples."

How does pathology contribute to the understanding of disease progression?

- "Idiomatically, 'a pathology' may also refer to the predicted or actual progression of particular diseases."

Are there different forms of cancer with diverse pathologies?

- "The many different forms of cancer have diverse pathologies."