GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Single channel
Chair (Coordinator) and Rapporteur: MARELLA MARODER
Module 1: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I - GENERAL PATHOLOGY
- Activity type
- Patologia generale e molecolare, immunopatologia, fisiopatologia generale, microbiologia e parassitologia
- SSD
- MED/04
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 6
- Hours distribution
- 75 classroom hours
- Lecturers
Module 2: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I - MEDICAL GENETICS
- Activity type
- Tirocini formativi e di orientamento
- SSD
- MED/03
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 1
- Hours distribution
- 25 others hours
- Lecturers
Module 3: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II - GENERAL PATHOLOGY
- Activity type
- Patologia generale e molecolare, immunopatologia, fisiopatologia generale, microbiologia e parassitologia
- SSD
- MED/04
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 7
- Hours distribution
- 87.5 classroom hours
- Lecturers
- MARELLA MARODER
LUCIA DI MARCOTULLIO
FABRIZIO MAINIERO
LAURA MASUELLI
GIUSEPPE GIANNINI
ALESSANDRA VACCA
Module 4: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II - CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
- Activity type
- Formazione clinica interdisciplinare e medicina basata sulle evidenze
- SSD
- MED/05
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 1
- Hours distribution
- 12.5 classroom hours
- Lecturers
- ALESSANDRA VACCA
Module 5: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II - ENDOCRINOLOGY
- Activity type
- Formazione clinica interdisciplinare e medicina basata sulle evidenze
- SSD
- MED/13
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 1
- Hours distribution
- 12.5 classroom hours
- Lecturers
- ELISABETTA FERRETTI
Module 6: GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II - TECHNICAL SCIENCES OF LABORATORY MEDICINE
- Activity type
- Formazione clinica interdisciplinare e medicina basata sulle evidenze
- SSD
- MED/46
- Year
- N/D
- Semester
- N/D
- CFU
- 1
- Hours distribution
- 12.5 classroom hours
- Lecturers
- GIANLUCA CANETTIERI
Objectives
General Teaching Objectives
The aim of the integrated course is to enable the student to know the etiological bases and the pathogenetic mechanisms of disease in man, as well as the fundamental physiopathological mechanisms of the main organs and apparatuses.
-To be able to interpret the fundamental physiopathological mechanisms of the main organs and apparatuses of disease in humans
-Know how to perform the operations aimed at an analysis of the fundamental pathogenetic and physiopathological mechanisms
of human disease and to interpret the results
-To be aware that the objective of knowing the etiopathogenetic bases of disease and of physiopathological processes constitutes the indispensable substratum for a subsequent clinical approach towards human diseases.
Knowledge of the etiology and the pathogenic mechanisms of human diseases, basic pathophysiological mechanisms of major organs and systems. Interpretation of basic pathophysiological and pathogenic mechanisms of human disease.
Ability to analyze the fundamental pathophysiological mechanisms of human diseases and interpret their results.
Knowledge of the pathogenic basis of disease and pathophysiological processes as the essential substrate for subsequent clinical approach to human diseases.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- recognize and understand the causes and fundamental pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of human diseases;
- correlate the molecular aspects of damage and pathology with signs and symptoms of disease and, therefore, with the clinical manifestations of each disease.
Finally, students should be aware that understanding the etiopathogenetic bases of diseases and pathophysiological processes is the essential foundation for the subsequent clinical approach to human diseases.
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of biochemistry, biology and genetics, human histology and embryology, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology is required.
For requested preparatory exams refer to the course regulation.
Programme
GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I (first semester)
• Introduction to General pathology. Main health concepts, pathological process and disease. Etiology and pathogenesis. Evolution, course and outcomes of the disease.
• General etiology: Environmental pathology. Pathology by physical and chemical agents. Biological agents of disease. Non-hereditary congenital pathology. Teratogenesis.
• Genetic pathology: Pathology of gene mutations. Transmission of genetic diseases. Models of human genetic diseases. Genetic of multifactorial diseases. Principal human diseases due to chromosome anomalies. Investigation of genetic diseases (chromosome, genetic and proteomic analysis)
• Molecular Pathology: Molecular pathology of proteins. Hemoglobinopathies. Pathology by enzyme deficiencies. Molecular pathology of the plasma membrane: receptors, channels, transduction mechanisms. Molecular pathology of mitochondria.
• Pathology of cellular structure: Cell response to injury: cellular stress, cellular adaptions (hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, metaplasia). Molecular mechanisms of cell damage. Mechanisms of cell death. Intracellular accumulations (steatosis, lysosomal diseases).
• Disorders of the extracellular matrix: Beta-fibrillosis. Local and systemic fibrosis. Collagen and other basal membrane component diseases.
Inflammation: Introduction to Inflammation: acute and chronic inflammation, angiophlogosis and hystophlogosis.
Receptors of innate immunity and inflammation. Inflammation as a transcriptional program. Inflammatory cells.
Chemical mediators of inflammation of plasma and cellular origins. Acute inflammation: vascular phenomena, mechanisms of exudate formation, types of exudative inflammation. Chronic inflammation: mechanism of granuloma formation. Foreign body granulomas. Main immunological granulomas. Systemic manifestations of inflammation. Regulation of the inflammatory process. Tissue repair and granulation tissue.
• Pathophysiology of thermoregulation: hyperthermia, hypothermia, fever.
• Pathophysiology of stem cells and non-coding RNAs.
• Pathophysiology of metabolism (amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, purines and pyrimidines).
GENERAL PATHOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I (second semester)
• Oncology
Cell/Tissue phenotypic changes: metaplasia, dysplasia, anaplasia and precancerous lesions. Definition of cancer. Morphological and biochemical features of the neoplastic cell. Histogenetic classification of tumors. Clinical criteria for the classification of tumors: grading and staging. Pathophysiology of replication and of cell differentiation and growth factors. Physical, chemical, viral and hormonal carcinogenesis. Stages of the neoplastic process: initiation, promotion and progression (invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis). Oncogenes and their activation mechanisms. Tumor suppressor genes. Genomic instability. Epigenetics and cancer. Metabolism and cancer. Hereditary tumors. Stem cells and cancer stem cells. Immunity, inflammation and cancer. Biological basis of target antineoplastic therapy. Senescence and cancer.
• General Pathophysiology
General pathophysiology of endocrine system.
General pathophysiology of cardiocirculatory system
General pathophysiology of digestive system, liver function and biliary tract
General pathophysiology of renal function
General pathophysiology of respiratory system
General pathophysiology of blood, blood-forming organs and hemostasis.
Books
Pontieri – Mainiero – Misasi – Sorice. Patologia generale e fisiopatologia generale – Volumi 1 e 2
Robbins e Cotran. Le basi patologiche delle malattie. Patologia generale (ed. 2021)
Teaching/learning material (slides) used for lessons
Bibliography
Pontieri – Mainiero – Misasi – Sorice. Patologia generale e fisiopatologia generale – Volumi 1 e 2
Robbins e Cotran. Le basi patologiche delle malattie. Patologia generale(ed. 2021)
Lessons mode
The course takes place with frontal lectures in which students are required a continuous interaction by favoring questions on the topics discussed during the lesson.
Frequency
Compulsory attendance
Exam mode
The exam consists of an oral discussion of topics covered during the lessons in order to assess the student's understanding of the course content and critical thinking skills.
Example exam questions
Chemical mediators of inflammation
Lysosomal Disorders
Cell death mechanisms
Molecular pathology of mitochondria
Viral Carcinogenesis
Tumor Metabolism
Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes
Pathophysiology of bilirubin Metabolism
Arguments
- Presentation of the integrated teaching and first semester lessons (october 2025-january 2026). Introduction to general pathology.
- General etiology - Environmental Pathology (four lessons).
- Genetic pathology (four lessons).
- Molecular pathology (three lessons).
- Pathology of cellular structures (three lessons)
- Disorders of the extracellular matrix.
- Inflammation (three lessons).
- Chronic inflammation and tissue repair.
- Pathophysiology of thermoregulation.
- Pathophysiology of stem cells.
- Pathophysiology of non-coding RNAs (two lessons).
- Pathophysiology of metabolism (three lessons).
- Presentation of second semester lessons.Introduction to oncology.
- Oncology (twentyone lessons).
- General pathophysiology of cardiocirculatory system (two lessons).
- General pathophysiology of digestive system.
- General pathophysiology of liver function and biliary tract.
- General pathophysiology of the endocrine system (five lessons).
- General pathophysiology of blood and blood-forming organs.
- General pathophysiology of hemostasis.
- General pathophysiology of respiratory system.
- General pathophysiology of renal system.
Sustainability goals
- Academic year2026/2027
- Degree program to which the course belongsMedicine and Surgery "A" - Roma Azienda Policlinico Umberto I
- Mandatory presenceNo
- Languageita
- CFU17 CFU, distributed among 6 integrated didactic modules
- Total duration225 hours