The Morphological Basis and Laws of Autopsy Interpretation: Exploring the Relationship between the Basic Medical Sciences, Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Practice

The discipline of Morbid Anatomy or Anatomical Pathology is a bridge between the basic medical
sciences and the clinical sciences [1]. It is clinico-pathologic discipline which deals with the
identification of lesions, interpreting them correctly at the macroscopic and microscopic levels and
relating them appropriately to known diseases within the context of the index patient [2]. Lesions are
the structural alterations seen in tissues as a result of the assault of the injurious agent or pathological
process. Thus, anatomical pathology establishes the basis for the ‘dis ease’ or discomfort in patients.
The human cell is known to be the most basic unit of life and the tissue is constituted by cells having
related functions. Injurious agents affect cell structure and ultimately the physiology and therefore the
cell is the natural habitat of the disease processes. Histopathology seeks to interpret the changes in
the cell to define the aetiology, evolution and progression of disease. An afflicted cell continues to
perform its functions at various degrees of capability as it finds itself able to adapt to negative
situations and maintain homeostasis. Each cell’s preserved structure guarantees preserved
biochemical constitution and therefore its routine physiological functions. A compromise in structure
without resolution or failure of homeostasis automatically leads to poor biochemistry of the cells and
poor functioning. Tissues with related or complementary functions constitute organs and organs with
related functions and contributory physiological relationships constitute organ systems which
essentially make up the whole human being. The relationship between anatomy, biochemistry and
physiology is interminable and inseparable though disease causing agents violate this union.