Category: Pathology

Albumin is the single most abundant protein found in human blood plasma, constituting about half of the total protein content. Knowing what is true about albumin is critical, as this protein performs several vital functions, including maintaining fluid balance, transporting key substances, and serving as an important diagnostic marker.

According to Pathology Tests Explained, the harmonised normal reference interval for blood sodium levels in Australia is 135 to 145 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Sodium, a crucial electrolyte, is tightly regulated by the body, and keeping levels within this range is essential for fluid balance, nerve signalling, and muscle function.

Cholesterol crystals are a hallmark of advanced atherosclerosis, the process of plaque buildup in the arteries. This discovery fundamentally shifted the understanding of plaque instability, revealing a physical mechanism in addition to biochemical processes. So, can cholesterol crystallize, and what does it mean for your heart health?

In medical pathology, the “nutmeg appearance” is a descriptive term for a speckled or mottled pattern on an organ, most notably the liver. This distinctive look is a sign of chronic passive congestion, often resulting from underlying heart failure, and resembles the cross-section of a grated nutmeg kernel.

First described by anatomist Francis Kiernan in 1833, the nutmeg pattern is a term with dual meanings, most prominently referring to a mottled appearance of the liver in medical pathology due to chronic venous congestion. However, the same term can also describe distinct aesthetics in the world of design and crafts. This article explores both applications of the 'nutmeg pattern,' detailing its medical significance and its less common, creative interpretations.

According to studies, vitamin C deficiency was once a major cause of death among sailors, with severe cases of scurvy claiming more lives than enemy action. Understanding the pathology of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, reveals its critical role in key biological processes and how its absence leads to systemic tissue damage and impaired immune function.

Vitamin C deficiency, also known as scurvy, occurs when the body's total vitamin C pool drops below 350 mg after being eliminated from the diet for at least three months. The pathophysiology of vitamin C deficiency is primarily rooted in the disruption of vital biochemical pathways, most notably defective collagen formation.

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is a major public health concern, and kwashiorkor is a particularly severe form characterized by protein deficiency, even when caloric intake is relatively adequate. The pathophysiology of kwashiorkor, a complex, multifactorial process, explains the development of the condition's distinct clinical features, including edema, fatty liver, and compromised immunity.

Historically, severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been the leading preventable cause of childhood blindness worldwide, but research shows it also directly impacts cellular structure. Specifically, a shortage of this essential fat-soluble nutrient is directly linked to the development of squamous metaplasia, a condition where normal, specialized epithelial cells are replaced by less specialized squamous cells.

Over 100 pathological findings have been compared to food items in medical literature, a phenomenon known as food eponymophilia. This practice of using culinary metaphors helps medical students and professionals understand and remember complex disease characteristics by relating them to familiar objects, answering the question: what is pathology named after food?