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Cytology studies cellular structure, composition, and interaction with the environment. It includes molecular and microscopic examination of cells in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. Cytology is important in diagnosing diseases, detecting cancer, and predicting problems related to cellular interaction. Understanding unicellular organisms such as bacteria is as important as understanding multicellular structures. Early diagnosis through cytology can lead to higher survival rates.
Cytology, more commonly known as cell biology, studies cellular structure, cellular composition, and the interaction of cells with other cells and the larger environment in which they exist. The term “cytology” can also refer to cytopathology, which analyzes cell structure to diagnose disease. Microscopic and molecular studies of cells can focus on multicellular or unicellular organisms.
The fact that we humans are made up of millions of tiny cells and that other life forms around us are made up in a similar way now hardly needs explaining. However, the concept of an airframe is relatively new. The scientific community did not accept the idea of the existence of cells until the end of the 18th century.
Recognizing the similarities and differences of cells is of the utmost importance in cytology. Microscopic examination can help identify different types of cells. Looking at the molecules that make up a cell, sometimes called molecular biology, aids in further description and identification. All fields of biology depend on understanding cell structure. The field of genetics exists because we understand the structure and components of cells.
Another important aspect in the discipline of cytology is looking into cellular interaction. By studying how cells relate to other cells or the environment, cytologists can predict problems or examine environmental dangers to cells, such as toxic or carcinogenic substances. In humans and other multicellular structures, cytology can examine for the presence of too many cells of a certain type or a lack of enough of a certain cell type. In a simple test like a complete blood count, a lab can look at your white blood cells and identify the presence of an infection, or they can look at a low level of some types of red blood cells and diagnose anemia.
Some autoimmune disorders can be diagnosed by abnormal cellular reactions. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, for example, is an autoimmune condition caused by an abnormal cellular reaction. Instead of white blood cells recognizing the presence of normal thyroid cells, these antibodies attack them, causing the thyroid gland to drop. Left untreated, this condition can lead to retardation, extreme fatigue, obesity, and eventually death. Through cytology, the abnormal reactions of these antibodies can be recognized and treatment can be undertaken long before the condition creates irreversible problems.
Cytopathology has similar purposes, but tends to look for cells that shouldn’t be present in an organism. Urinalysis and blood tests, for example, can detect the presence of parasites or bacteria that can cause illness and death. Hence, in cytology, understanding unicellular organisms such as many forms of bacteria is as important as understanding multicellular structures.
This is also one of the main diagnostic tools to detect cancer. A woman’s annual gynecological examination almost always involves a pap smear – a collection of tissues that are analyzed in cellular structure to detect the first formations of cancer cells. Early diagnosis can lead to higher survival rates. Likewise, needle biopsies of lumps in the breast or elsewhere can detect cancer cells and provide an excellent means for diagnosis.
