Pathology is a branch of medical sciences that deals with the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them. The Greek word ‘pathos’ meaning pain or suffering and ‘–logy’ means the study. It is done through examining molecules, cells, tissues and organs. The German pathologist Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) is regarded the father of pathology. With the help of compound microscope Virchow was among the earliest physicians to emphasize the study of manifestations of disease which were visible only at the cellular level.
With the development of new research techniques, such as electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology, the study in this field has expanded many folds. Now biomedical scientists and pathologists can find out the cause of many diseases by only studying the changes occurred in the patients i.e. by testing blood, urine, stool etc.
In the broadest sense, nearly all research which links manifestations of disease to identifiable processes in cells, tissues, or organs can be considered pathology. A medical doctor that specializes in pathology is called a pathologist. Pathologists are experts at interpreting microscopic views of body tissues. |
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