What is Histopathology?
Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of biological tissues. It involves the examination of thin slices of tissue, called sections, which are placed on glass slides and stained to enhance the visibility of various cellular and extracellular components. Histological techniques are commonly used in the diagnosis of disease and in research to study the structure and function of different types of tissue.
Definition of Histopathology
Histopathology is a subspecialty of pathology that involves the examination of tissue samples removed from the body (biopsies) or from surgical specimens, using a microscope. It is the study of the changes in cells and tissues that occur as a result of disease. Histopathological examination is performed by a pathologist, a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of diseases by studying the tissue samples under a microscope. Histopathological examination is essential for the diagnosis of many types of cancer and other diseases, and helps in determining the most appropriate treatment for the patient.
Branches of Histopathology
Histopathology is the study of the microscopic structure of biological tissues. It is divided into several branches, including:
- General histopathology: The study of general tissue changes, such as inflammation and neoplasia.
- Hematopathology: The study of blood and blood-forming tissues.
- Cytopathology: The study of cells and cell changes, often used in the diagnosis of cancer.
- Immunohistochemistry: The use of antibodies to identify specific proteins in tissue samples.
- Electron microscopy: The use of a high-powered microscope to view tissues at a very high magnification.
- Forensic pathology: The application of histopathological techniques in legal investigations.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: The study of diseases and lesions of the oral cavity and related structures.
- Dermatopathology: The study of skin diseases and skin lesions.
- Neuropathology: The study of diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
- Veterinary pathology: The study of diseases and disorders in animals.
Histopathology Tissue Sample Type
Definition of cytopathology
Cytopathology is the study of the abnormal changes in cells, including cancer, and the use of these changes to diagnose disease. It involves the examination of cells that have been collected from the body, typically through a fine-needle aspiration or a scraping, and are then examined under a microscope. The cells are typically collected from the surface of organs or from body fluids such as blood or urine. Cytopathology is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions such as cancer, infections, and inflammation.
Tissue Processing Steps:-
The basic steps of tissue processing include:
- Fixation: The tissue is preserved by immersing it in a chemical fixative, such as formalin.
- Dehydration: The tissue is progressively dehydrated in a series of alcohol solutions.
- Clearing: The tissue is cleared of any remaining alcohol by immersing it in a clearing agent, such as xylene.
- Embedding: The tissue is embedded in a solid medium, such as paraffin wax, to provide support for sectioning.
- Sectioning: The tissue is cut into thin slices, typically using a microtome.
- Mounting: The tissue sections are mounted onto glass slides for staining and examination under a microscope.
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