Introduction to General Pathology and Histotechniques

Introduction to General Pathology and Histotechniques

• Learning Objectives: Students will be able to understand autopsy, biopsy, aspects of diseases (etiology, pathogenesis, morphology, clinical significance), pathology terms, and different types of pathology.
• Pathology: The study of diseases and cellular abnormalities.
• Pathogenesis: The mechanism of development of a disease.
• Morphology: Structural alterations in tissues or cells due to disease.
• Clinical Significance: The functional consequences of disease.
• Autopsy: Systematic examination of a deceased body to determine the cause of death. Also known as necropsy or postmortem examination.
• Biopsy: Examination of living tissue to diagnose a disease or confirm a finding of normalcy.

Divisions of Pathology

• Gross Pathology (Macroscopic): Examination of specimens without a microscope.
• Microscopic Pathology: Examination using a microscope.
• Anatomic Pathology: Studies changes in organ function, structure, or appearance, including postmortem examinations and biopsy analysis.
• Surgical Pathology: Examination of tissues removed during surgery.
• Autopsy Pathology: Examination of tissues after death.

Different Sections in the Laboratory

• Clinical Chemistry: Biochemical analysis of human samples (blood, fluids, tissues) to assess conditions like glucose, blood sugar, NPNs (BUN, Creatinine, Uric Acid), etc.
• Hematology: The study of blood-related cells (RBCs, WBCs, platelets). Tests include CBC, differential count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, etc.
• Blood Banking (Transfusion Medicine): Collection, storage, compatibility and safety of blood and blood components for transfusion. Includes blood typing, crossmatching, and donor screening.
• Microbiology: Isolation, culture, and identification of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).
• Clinical Immunology and Serology: Diagnosing infectious diseases by detecting antibodies in body fluids.

Histotechniques

• Histotechnology: Procedures for preparing tissue for microscopic examination by a histotechnologist. A histotechnologist prepares tissue samples for analysis by pathologists.
• Histopathologic Technique: Different procedures for preparing and examining tissues for microscopic analysis.
• Histopathology: Histopathology is the branch of pathology that deals with the microscopic examination of tissue samples to diagnose diseases.

Histology

• Histology: The study of the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues, focusing on how cells' structure and arrangement optimize organ functions.
• Basic Tissue Types:
• Muscle Tissue: Soft tissue composing muscles, crucial for contraction.
• Nervous Tissue: Tissue forming the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, used for receiving and transmitting impulses.
• Connective Tissue: Supports and connects other tissues, maintaining water and metabolite diffusion.
• Epithelial Tissue: Lines outer and inner surfaces of organs and cavities. Types include squamous, cuboidal, and columnar.