Histopathology & Cytopathology

Histology is also known as microanatomy. It is the branch of biology which deals with the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. In medicine, histopathology is the branch of histology which includes the microscopic identification of the diseased tissue. It is an important part of anatomical pathology and surgical pathology.Histopathological examination of tissue requires an accurate diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. The field of histology that includes the preparation of tissues for microscopic examination is known as histotechnology.

Antibodies have been used to specifically visualize proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. This process is called immunohistochemistry. When the stain is used to target a specific chemical component of the tissue, the term histochemistry is used.

There are separate fields in terms of medical practice, a number of areas of inquiry in medicine and medical science overlap greatly with general pathology, work in tandem with it, or contribute significantly to the understanding of the pathology of a given disease or its course in an individual. As a significant portion of all general pathology practice is concerned with cancer, the practice of oncology is deeply tied to, and dependent upon, the work of both anatomical and clinical pathologists. Biopsy, resection and blood tests are all examples of pathology work that is essential for the diagnosis of many kinds of cancer and for the staging of cancerous masses.