Inflammation is a response of vascularized tissues to infections and tissue damage that brings cells and molecules of host defense from the circulation to the sites where they are needed, in order to eliminate the offending agents. Although in common…
Introduction to Pathology The field of pathology is dedicated to understanding the causes of disease and the changes in cells, tissues, and organs that are associated with development of disease. Thus, pathology provides the scientific foundation for the practice of…
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a hollow tube extending from the oral cavity to the anus that consists of anatomically distinct segments including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus. Each of these segments has unique, complementary, and…
In this chapter, we will first consider diseases of red cells. By far, the most common and important are the anemias, red cell deficiency states that usually have a nonneoplastic basis. We will then complete our review of blood diseases…
The components of the hematopoietic system have been traditionally divided into the myeloid tissues, which include the bone marrow and the cells derived from it (e.g., red cells, platelets, granulocytes, and monocytes), and the lymphoid tissues, consisting of the thymus,…
Many diseases are caused or influenced by environmental factors. Broadly defined, the term environment encompasses the various indoor, outdoor, and occupational settings in which human beings live and work. In each of these settings, the air people breathe, the food…
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States; only cardiovascular diseases exact a higher toll. Even more agonizing than the mortality rate is the emotional and physical suffering inflicted by cancers. Patients and the public often…
The immune system is vital for survival because it protects us from infectious pathogens that abound in the environment and from the development of cancer. Predictably, immune deficiencies render individuals easy prey to infections and increase the incidence of certain…
Genes and Human Diseases In Chapter 1 , we discussed the architecture of the normal human genome. Here we build on that knowledge to discuss the genetic basis of human diseases. Genetic disorders are far more common than is widely…
The health of cells and tissues depends on the circulation of blood, which delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes generated by cellular metabolism. Under normal conditions, as blood passes through capillary beds, proteins in the plasma are retained within…