Forensic Pathology for Police - Brainshare Public Online Library

Chapter 1
Introduction to Pathology
They will die of deadly diseases.
Jeremiah 16:4
Abstract This chapter provides a basic description of “pathology,” which literally
means the “study of disease.” Pathology is unique in that the discipline represents
one of the “basic sciences” taught in medical school, but it is also considered a medical
specialty, a career path chosen by certain physicians. The reader is provided with
a description of classic medical education within the United States. Much of the
chapter deals with describing the specialty of pathology, including training requirements,
the two major branches of pathology (anatomic and clinical pathology), and
various subspecialty areas.
Keywords Pathology · Medicine · Medical school · Anatomic pathology · Clinical
pathology
“Pathology” literally means “the study of disease” and is studied by all physicians
as part of their medical school curriculum. It is considered one of medicine’s “basic
sciences” (along with gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy (“histology”), physiology,
biochemistry, pharmacology, etc.) and is usually studied during the second
year of a student’s four years of medical school training. The typical medical school
curriculum is shown in Table 1.1.
After graduating from medical school, a physician typically participates in additional
“postgraduate” training, encompassing the internship and residency years.
Physicians choose the type of medical specialty that they wish to pursue as a
career and participate in a residency program for that particular specialty. Although
pathology is an essential “basic science” (as described above) within the traditional
medical school curriculum, it is also a medical specialty (like pediatrics, radiology,
internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, etc.). In other words, a medical student can
choose to become a pathologist, just as another medical student chooses to become
an anesthesiologist, an endocrinologist or an obstetrician. Table 1.2 shows a list of
various medical specialties available to physicians. A specialty can be considered
one of three general types: (1) those that are “medical” (meaning “non-surgical”)
J. Prahlow, Forensic Pathology for Police, Death Investigators, Attorneys,
and Forensic Scientists, DOI 10.1007/978-1-59745-404-9_1,
C○ Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
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