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Cytopathy is any disease or disorder of a cell or of the structures contained within a cell. The most common example of cytopathy is cancer. Cancer is an abnormal growth of new tissue characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormally structured cells that have a more primitive form. Cytopathy is often detected via biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing living tissue or cells from organs or other body parts of patients for examination under a microscope or in a culture to help make a diagnosis, follow the course of a disease, or estimate a prognosis. The type of doctor who studies the disease (pathology), structure, function, multiplication, life history, problems, and chemistry of the cell is known as a cytologist.
Sometimes, the word cytopathy is used to describe disease within part of the cell. An example is mitochondrial cytopathy which is disease of the mitochondria. Mitochondria are rod-shaped bodies inside of cells that break down simple substances to provide energy. Cytopathic means pertaining to or showing the effect of cytopathy. Cytopathy is also a term used to describe the branch of pathology (the study of disease) that studies the effects of disease of cells or parts of cells. Cytopathy comes from the Greek word "kytos" meaning "a hollow cell," and the Greek word "pathos" meaning "suffering." Put the two words together and you have "suffering (of) a hollow cell."
Sometimes, the word cytopathy is used to describe disease within part of the cell. An example is mitochondrial cytopathy which is disease of the mitochondria. Mitochondria are rod-shaped bodies inside of cells that break down simple substances to provide energy. Cytopathic means pertaining to or showing the effect of cytopathy. Cytopathy is also a term used to describe the branch of pathology (the study of disease) that studies the effects of disease of cells or parts of cells. Cytopathy comes from the Greek word "kytos" meaning "a hollow cell," and the Greek word "pathos" meaning "suffering." Put the two words together and you have "suffering (of) a hollow cell."
Cytopathy
