What's pathophysiology means and the difference between pathology and pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is the study of the disordered physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with a disease or injury. In simpler terms, it deals with the mechanisms of how diseases develop and the underlying functional changes that occur within the body as a result of a disease or disease process. Pathophysiology is concerned with the dynamic aspects of disease processes, including the sequence of events leading to disease states and the body's reactions to these changes.
On the other hand, pathology is a broader field that encompasses all aspects of disease, including the study of the causes (etiology) of diseases, their development (pathogenesis), their structural alterations of cells (morphologic changes), and the consequences of those changes (clinical manifestations). Pathology can be divided into:
1. Anatomic pathology, which involves the examination of the morphological aspects of disease, such as studying tissues, organs, and whole bodies (autopsy) to make diagnoses.
2. Clinical pathology, also known as laboratory medicine, which involves the analysis of blood, urine, and tissue samples to examine and diagnose diseases.
The primary difference is that pathology often refers to the actual condition or changes seen in the disease at a static point, which can include gross or histological examination, while pathophysiology refers more to the functional changes and processes that occur over time as a result of the disease.
In summary, pathology is the medical specialty that provides a diagnosis of disease based on the gross, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic, and molecular examination of organs, tissues, and whole bodies (autopsy). Pathophysiology, in contrast, is specifically focused on the functional changes that occur due to a disease or injury and helps to explain the processes by which the pathology develops and progresses.