501698 - GENERAL PATHOLOGY

courses

ID:

501698

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

PATOLOGIA GENERALE

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 30/01/2026)

Course Objectives

At the end of the General Pathology course, students will know the main causes (chemical, physical and biological) responsible for alterations in structures and functions of the organism. They will understand the mechanisms by which the causes lead to biological damage (cellular, tissue, organ) determining the onset of disease. Particularly, students will know the mechanisms of cellular, tissue damage and death (with special attention on necrosis), immunity and inflammation, healing (by resolution, regeneration and repair), major human degenerative diseases, abnormalities of growth and differentiation, as well as chronicity of disease processes, including atherosclerosis.

Course Prerequisites

Basics of chemistry, physics, biochemistry and physiology, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, anatomy and histology.

Teaching Methods

The course of General Pathology consists of lectures by using PowerPoint presentations projected on the screen, in-depth studies using the blackboard and demonstrations with digital microscope in the lecture theatre (optional) concerning tissues of the mouth and teeth. The teacher is available for any explanation of the topics covered in the course during office hours.

Assessment Methods

The exam consists of a written test aimed at ascertaining the skills acquired in relation to the contents of the course. 8 thematic questions on at least 5 topics covered during the lectures will be given. The evaluation considers the degree of depth and understanding of the topics, but also the ability to integrate the knowledge acquired. The general Pathology mark will be added to that obatained in the Immunology Lab.

Texts

General Pathology - Altucci et al. (Idelson-Gnocchi) Pathologic basis of disease (Vol. I) - Robbins and Cotran (Elsevier - Masson) General Pathology - Pontieri et al. (Piccin) The books are available for consultation at the Unit of Immunology and Pathology, Via Ferrata 9, Pavia.

General pathology is the discipline studying both the agents causing human diseases and the molecular mechanisms of the pathological processes by the crucial help of experimental models. In particular, the course will focus on the dynamics of cellular injury, including cell death as apoptosis and necrosis, and the elementary lesions (degenerative diseases, inflammatory processes, immunological lesions, cell growth alterations, in particular malignant tumours) and some examples of complex lesions (thrombus and atheroma).

Course Language

Italian

More information

The General Pathology course is treated concurrently with the Immunology laboratory, whose training objectives are strichtly associated with innate immunity (inflammation), a subject covered in the Pathology course.