pathology
n. C / Un. the study of diseases and how they affect the body. It can also describe the specific physical changes that a disease causes in a person.
n. the branch of medical science that studies the causes, nature, and effects of diseases. Often refers to the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs that result from a specific disease process.
The doctor sent the tissue sample to pathology for testing.
Understanding the pathology of the virus helped researchers develop a more effective vaccine for the elderly.
The forensic report detailed the complex pathology of the infection, tracing its rapid progression from the initial site to the patient's major organs.
From French pathologie, from Ancient Greek πάθος (páthos, “disease”) and -λογία (-logía, “study of”).
Uncountable when referring to the field of study; countable when referring to the specific manifestations of a disease.