Anatomical pathology is the study of anatomical specimens to understand disease and death. It involves examining biopsy samples, bodies of murder victims, and autopsy pathology. Anatomical pathologists attend medical school and complete a residency in general pathology. There are subspecialties in the field, such as neuropathology and cytopathology. The goal is to examine specimens and determine if they are normal or abnormal. Work in this field requires attention to detail, descriptive skills, and a high tolerance for unpleasant sights and smells.
Anatomical pathology, also known as anatomical pathology, is a branch of the medical field that involves the examination of anatomical specimens to learn more about the processes of disease and death. Specialists in this field do everything from examining biopsy samples taken by surgeons to determine whether or not a growth is cancerous to examining the bodies of murder victims to determine cause of death and gathering evidence that could be used in investigations. investigations and prosecution.
The term “pathology” translates to “the study of suffering,” and this medical discipline focuses on examining the nature, course, and resolution of disease. To become an anatomical pathologist, someone must attend medical school and complete a residency in general pathology, followed by a focus in anatomical pathology. The other major area of interest in the field of pathology is clinical pathology, where samples of body fluids are examined in the laboratory.
There are a number of subspecialties within the field of anatomical pathology. For example, someone might focus on neuropathology, the examination of brain tissue, or cytopathology, the study of samples of cells. When a doctor takes a Pap smear from a woman, tissue examination is often done by a cytopathologist. Other specialties include molecular pathology, gynecological pathology, endocrine pathology, dermatopathology, cardiac pathology, osteopathology, and autopsy or forensic pathology.
The goal of a pathologist is to be able to examine an anatomical specimen and determine whether the specimen is normal or abnormal, and if it is abnormal, describe the abnormality. Anatomical pathology can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, to do everything from confirming that a surgeon has removed all of a tumor to diagnosing a particular form of kidney disease from a biopsy specimen.
One of the more unique specialties in the field of anatomical pathology is autopsy pathology, which involves studying deceased individuals to learn how they died. Autopsies are routinely ordered in cases where a death is suspicious or when the cause of death is unclear. In forensic pathology, the pathologist studies the body to learn not only how the person died, but also when. This branch of pathology also focuses on gathering forensic evidence.
Work in the field of anatomical pathology can be diverse and quite rewarding. Applicants interested in working in this area of medicine should have excellent attention to detail, coupled with great descriptive skills which will enable them to communicate clearly in pathology findings. It may also help to have a high tolerance to unpleasant sights and strong smells, as these frequently crop up in pathology labs.
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