Chapter 1 Introduction to Pathology - PDF

Chapter 1 Introducti on to Pathology  What is disease? A structural or functional change in the body that is harmful to the organism. – Some changes are normal such as puberty, pregnancy or muscle hypertrophy Disease occurs when cellular changes within a tissue res...

Chapter 1 Introducti on to Pathology  What is disease? A structural or functional change in the body that is harmful to the organism. – Some changes are normal such as puberty, pregnancy or muscle hypertrophy Disease occurs when cellular changes within a tissue results in a tissue losing its ability to preform its functions optimally A disease is a particular abnormal condition that adversely affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism and is not immediately due to any external injury.  What is disease? Cellular basis of disease – states that diseases results from damaged structures of organs, tissues, and cells and includes changes at the molecular level including proteins and ultimately genes resulting in damaged function and is the basis of western medicine Allopathic medicine = conventional practice of medicine with biological bases for treatment – This replaces the notion that diseases resulting from evil spirts or blockages in flow of chi etc.  What is disease? Pathology in the broadest sense is the study of what disease does to the body. – Includes the study of the basic structural and functional changes associated with a disease – as well as the sequence of events that leads from structural and functional abnormalities to clinical manifestations The sequence is called pathogenesis of disease Its study is called pathophysiology Etiology means the study of causes but is commonly used to connote the cause of disease  Types of Pathology Branches of pathology include: Anatomic pathology. The study of tissues, organs, and tumors. Cytopathology. The study of cellular changes and everything related to cells. Forensic pathology. Doing autopsies and legal pathology tests. Molecular pathology. The study of DNA and RNA sequencing, genes, and genetics.  Manifestations of Disease Is a term to refer to all the information (data) gathered about the patient that relates to the disease process: – Symptoms—are evidence of disease. What the patient perceives to be wrong (for example; chest pain,) – Signs—Objective findings made by the examiner (abnormal heart sounds ect.) – Laboratory Findings—Made by performing special procedures (EKG, blood count etc. ) Assimilation all these findings can lead to a diagnosis Syndromes – a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition. – Clusters of findings commonly encountered with more than one disease  Structural vs. Functional Diseases Structural Diseases: – Caused by structural changes also called lesions that occur within the body – Can be genetic or developmental – Caused by external or internal mechanisms  Structural vs. Functional Diseases Functional Diseases: – No visible lesions present initially Though over time, structural changes will appear – Caused by a physiologic (functional) change Example: stop producing a digestive enzyme Structural and Functional Diseases can overlap  Causes of Disease There are many different causes of disease – 1). Exogenous Direct physical injury Chemical injury Microbiologic injury or Infection  Causes of Disease There are many different causes of disease – 2). Endogenous Vascular diseases Immunologic diseases Metabolic diseases Some diseases are termed idiopathic, meaning no known cause  Care of Patients Typical approach in allopathic medicine – Wait for the patient to seek help Health practitioner conducts a workup – Take a history of the patients' symptoms – Preform a physical exam – Order laboratory tests – Based on these results a differential diagnosis is made » May order additional tests to focus in on a single diagnosis » This allows for a prognosis or prediction of the course of the disease » Provides a guide for treatment – Therapy is undertaken to goal to attempt to alter the course of the disease – Follow-up on results of treatment to » Monitor progress