Pathology

Terminology description

Pathology is a branch of science that deals with diagnostic study of diseases. Scientific study of diseases is referred as general pathology and that of genetic study of diseases is referred as medical pathology. Medical pathology is of two types, namely, clinical pathology and anatomical pathology. Pathology of diseases is determined by detailed examination of tissues, cells, organs, body fluids and/ or whole body.

Types of pathology

Based on the investigation or detailed pathology study, they are classified as follows.

• General pathology
• Anatomical pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Forensic pathology
• Veterinary pathology
• Psychopathology
• Molecular pathology
• Plant pathology

General pathology:

General pathology is also referred as investigative pathology or theoretical pathology or experimental pathology. This branch of science helps in proper understanding of basic mechanisms like damage to cells, tissues or body parts. Human body response to damage incurred can be predicted by pathological observation. Major inclusions of general pathology are as follows.

• Adaptation of injured cells
• Inflammation that occurs as a biological response to injured cells
• Neoplasia which results in proliferation of injured cells or abnormal cells
• Wound healing when damaged cells repair on its own
• Necrosis, that is, premature death of cells

Anatomical pathology:

Based on the bare eye examination, microscopic structure examination, chemical response, immunological response and molecular response of cells, tissues and body parts pathology of an individual is analyzed. This type of diagnosis is referred as anatomical pathology. The sub specialties of anatomical pathology are forensic pathology, cytopathology and surgical pathology. There are two branches of anatomical pathology, namely, clinical pathology and combination of anatomic and clinical pathology referred as general pathology. Special expertise is required to perform the clinical pathology and anatomic pathology.

Clinical pathology is a branch of science that deals with laboratory analysis of injured cells, tissues or organs. Usually blood and urine are analyzed in lab. Laboratory tools that clinical pathologist handle are chemistry, hematology, molecular pathology and microbiology. Clinical pathologists work in hospitals to ensure the medical testing accuracy.

Dermatopathology:

Dermatopathology is a sub division of anatomic pathology. Here, skin is considered as an organ. General dermatology is aware of pathology of skin; hence both dermatologists and dermatopathologists can perform medical testing. However, dermatopathologist is seen as specialist in this field of operation and research.

Forensic pathology:

Forensic pathology is a sub specialty of anatomic pathology and is mainly concerned with the death of an individual. Forensic pathologists examine cadaver by autopsy. This is carried out in cases of civil  and criminal laws for judgment.

Veterinary pathology:

A medical specialist performs the diagnosis of animal tissues, cells and body fluids. They are of two types, namely, clinical pathology and anatomical pathology. Veterinary pathologists play their active role in development of veterinary drugs.

Psychopathology:

Psychopathology is a branch of science that deals with mental illness.

Molecular pathology:

It includes the detailed study of cells, tissues and organs by molecular diagnosis. This study helps in development of cross over medicine. Genetical and molecular approach for classification of tumor cells, tumor biomarkers development and factors involved in carcinogenesis formation.

Plant pathology:

The branch of science that deals with diseases of plants caused by environmental factors and pathogens is referred as plant pathology. It helps in understanding of disease development, resistance to disease, interaction of humans and plants, epidemiology of plant disease. The plant pathology study reveals the interaction of plant, pathogen and environmental conditions.

Role of pathology in biology

• Prevention of infection
• Characterization and classification of disease
• Diagnosis and treatment of cancer
• Genetic testing
• Patients’ medical care guidance