Pathology

Definition

Pathology is the medical science of the causes, mechanisms, structural/functional changes, and effects of disease — including injury produced by infection, toxins, and immune responses.

Key Characteristics

  • Bridges basic science and clinical diagnosis (morphology + mechanisms).
  • In infectious disease: damage may come from the Pathogen, its toxins, or the host immune response (MOC - Immunology).
  • Related clinical framing: Infectious Disease.