Introduction to system pathology

Question 1

1.

What is the definition of disease in systems pathology?

Answer 1

Disease is an interruption, cessation, or disorder of a body system or organ structure/function, leading to failure of homeostasis, cell injury, and death​

Question 2

What is pathology, and how does it help clinicians?

Answer 2

Pathology is the scientific study of disease, including the functional and structural changes at the cellular level. It helps clinicians understand symptoms, signs, complications, treatments, and the likely course of a disease.

Question 3

What is aetiology and pathogenesis in the context of disease?

Answer 3

Aetiology is the cause of disease, and pathogenesis is the process by which a causal agent leads to disease symptoms.

Question 4

What are genetic and epigenetic aetiologies of disease?

Answer 4

• Genetic: Changes in DNA sequence, gene mutations, or chromosomal defects, which may be inherited or acquired.
• Epigenetic: Modifications in gene expression that are independent of DNA sequence, such as those caused by environmental factors​

Question 5

What are idiopathic diseases?

Answer 5

Diseases with unknown causes are termed idiopathic, cryptogenic, or essential​

Question 6

How are diseases classified by duration?

Answer 6

Acute: Rapid onset, rapid resolution.
Chronic: Lasting for months or years, often causing irreversible damage​

Question 7

Define morbidity and mortality in medical terms.

Answer 7

• Morbidity: The extent to which a disease reduces a patient’s health.
• Mortality: The likelihood that a patient will die from the disease, often given as a percentage​

Question 8

What is the difference between incidence and prevalence in epidemiology?

Answer 8

Incidence: The number of new cases in a population over a set time period.
Prevalence: The total number of cases in a population at any given time​

Question 9

How can diseases be classified according to their cause?

Answer 9

Diseases can be classified as:
* genetic,
* infective, i
* mmune,
* neoplastic,
* vascular,
* metabolic,
* degenerative, or i
* atrogenic

Question 10

Give examples of multi-system pathology.

Answer 10

• Cardiovascular disease: Affects respiratory (e.g., pulmonary oedema), nervous (e.g., multi-infarct dementia), and renal systems (e.g., hypertensive renal failure).
• Endocrine disease (Cushing’s syndrome): Affects cardiovascular (hypertension), musculoskeletal (osteoporosis, myopathy), and reproductive systems (gonadal dysfunction)​
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