Course overview
Essentials of Pathology is designed to present students with essential concepts of pathological processes and altered health states. The course looks in depth at a wide variety of common pathological conditions. General topics covered include the nature and causes of cell injury and death; adaptive cellular changes; inflammation, healing and repair, thrombosis, infarction and neoplasia. More detailed attention is given to cardio and cerebrovascular pathology, gastrointestinal diseases, bone and joint diseases and common cancers. Clinical scenarios within each module correlate the anatomical pathology with major clinical symptoms and signs. In addition to lectures, small group tutorials provide an opportunity for students to examine macroscopic and microscopic specimens illustrating the pathology covered in lectures.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of essential basic pathological processes including cell death and injury, inflammation, thrombosis and neoplasia
- Acquire the ability to relate these essential basic pathological processes to the pathogenesis of common and important diseases
- Demonstrate an understanding of the predisposing factors, causes, pathogenesis, morphology and potential complications of such diseases
- Correlate clinical features with the causes and mechanisms of disease
- Demonstrate an understanding of how knowledge of pathological processes can be utilised in the investigation, management and prevention of disease
- Use the terminology for the field of pathology correctly and contextually
- Acquire, read, interpret and synthesis information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner
- Acknowledge and reference sources of information appropriately
- Work in groups and individually in the pursuit of scientific knowledge