Pathology is the study of diseases or any medical condition that shortens the length or enjoyment of life. Pathology touches every facet of medicine and therefore, society.
Medicine is pathology. By becoming a pathologist, you will become involved in medicine at its purest level. Most people do not know that pathologists diagnose every cancer in the world and they are involved in the monitoring of all acute and chronic diseases, blood disorders and infections. There are different types of pathology people can study.
Anatomical pathology is the study of organs and tissues to help find the cause and the effects of a particular disease. Their findings are essential to medical diagnosis, patient management and research.
Chemical pathology or biochemistry involves the study and investigation of biochemical basis of disease processes, with particular concerns on metabolic diseases which include diabetes, bone disease, inborn errors of metabolism and lipid disorders.
Forensic pathology investigates unexpected deaths and the analysis of criminal cases and helping the police with investigations.
Genetics involves tests on chromosomes and DNA from cells in the body fluids and tissues to diagnose genetic diseases. There are two main branches of genetics. Cytogenetics and molecular genetics.
Haematology deals with many aspects of diseases which affect blood such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma and clotting or bleeding disorders. It also encompasses the subspecialty of transfusion medicine which includes blood typing and compatibility testing of a large range of blood products.
Immunology deals with immunological tests for allergic reactions and diagnostic markers for immune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid, arthritis, diabetes and thyroid conditions, and tests to monitor tissue injury due to inflammation.
Microbiology deals with diseases caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites through tests on blood, body fluids and tissue samples.
Lastly general pathology covers all areas of...