Introduction to Pathology

Lesson 3 Overview

As an allied health professional, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the causes of disease, signs, symptoms, and treatment. This lesson is a foundation of knowledge that you’ll apply as you work through the rest of your lessons. Infectious diseases have bothered humans since the beginning of time. Advances with antibiotics, vaccines, and infection control over the course of the last century have significantly reduced the risk of mortality for what were previously fatal or debilitating infectious diseases. Although medical advances have decreased the mortality and morbidity from infectious disease, you must not underestimate the potential of resurgence and adaptability of pathogens.

Lesson Objectives

• Recognize specialized fields in pathology, common terms used in pathology, and the history of pathology
• Identify techniques used by healthcare providers to obtain information about disease
• Explain how pathologists examine differences between cells and attempt to determine causes
• Recognize how cell adaptation and injury occurs
• Describe how microorganisms grow and multiply
• Recognize how pathogens cause infection and can be spread
• Describe how the human body protects against pathogens
• Explain how healthcare workers can protect themselves from contracting infectious diseases