Skip to main content

Pathology key concepts

6 revision pages for Pathology, each with the key facts, a memory aid where one helps, and the exam traps.

  1. Carcinoma in situ versus invasive carcinoma

    Carcinoma in situ (in place) is malignant-looking epithelium that stays above the basement membrane (the thin supporting layer beneath it), while invasive carcinoma has broken through it.

  2. Disseminated intravascular coagulation: why clotting and bleeding coexist

    DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) is clotting switched on throughout the circulation, forming tiny clots and using up the supplies needed to stop bleeding.

  3. Fibrinolysis: tPA, plasminogen and plasmin

    Fibrinolysis, the breakdown of fibrin (the protein strands forming a clot's meshwork), happens when activators such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) convert inactive plasminogen into plasmin, which digests fibrin.

  4. Psoriasis: keratinocyte hyperproliferation and silvery plaques

    Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin disease in which keratinocytes (the main skin cells) multiply too fast; classic plaque psoriasis gives red plaques (thickened patches) with silvery scale (skin flakes).

  5. Thoracic duct versus right lymphatic duct: drainage territories

    Lymph (fluid leaked from capillaries) returns to the blood through two ducts: the thoracic duct drains most of the body, the right lymphatic duct only the right upper quarter.

  6. Types of hypoxia: hypoxaemic, anaemic, ischaemic and histiotoxic

    Hypoxia means too little oxygen reaching or being used by a tissue, and its four types depend on where the oxygen supply chain breaks down.

Practice Pathology questions