Respiratory pathology
Read the topic background here, then explore the labeled visual and structured learning explanations on this page.
Read explanation on this page ↓ See diagram ↓Respiratory disease — on-site reading
This reference extract addresses Respiratory disease, a related subject. It does not cover every part of Respiratory pathology.. The article introduction is reproduced here, so you do not need to leave MedAtlas to read it. It may not match the latest official medical guidance.
Respiratory diseases, or lung diseases, are pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange difficult in air-breathing animals. They include conditions of the respiratory tract including the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleurae, pleural cavity, the nerves and muscles of respiration. Respiratory diseases range from mild, self-limiting illnesses, such as the common cold, viral pharyngitis, and acute bronchitis, to life-threatening diseases such as bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, acute asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, influenza, and COVID-19. Respiratory diseases can be classified in many different ways, including by the organ or tissue involved, by the type and pattern of associated signs and symptoms, or by the cause of the disease.
The study of respiratory disease is known as pulmonology. A physician who specializes in respiratory disease is known as a pulmonologist, a chest medicine specialist, a respiratory medicine specialist, a respirologist or a thoracic medicine specialist.
How this connects to Pathology
Pulmonary function combines airway ventilation, alveolar gas exchange, blood perfusion and respiratory-muscle mechanics. Airflow limitation, restricted expansion, impaired diffusion and ventilation–perfusion mismatch are distinct mechanisms that may coexist and require different investigations.
Text credit: Wikipedia contributors, “Respiratory disease”, original article · authors & revision history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified opening extract, accessed 24 September 2026. This Wikipedia-derived section is provided under CC BY-SA 4.0; the independent MedAtlas notes and design are separate works.
Respiratory pathology · visual study map
Scalable vector illustration. Labeled conceptual map, not a precise anatomical, histological or diagnostic image.The wording in this learning map is adapted from the attributed Wikipedia background section below (CC BY-SA 4.0).
What the underlying subject studies
Pathology connects tissue and cellular changes to disease mechanisms. Begin with normal anatomy and physiology, describe what is disrupted, and distinguish an observed finding from its possible cause. A lesion pattern is often shared by several diseases.
How mechanisms and evidence connect
Organ injury may result from inflammation, ischemia, immune mechanisms, neoplasia, metabolic abnormalities or inherited conditions. The time course and host response influence morphology and clinical consequences.
How to develop a sound explanation
When studying a pathology topic, organize cause, mechanism, macro- and microscopic features, consequences and key differentials. Real diagnoses require clinical context, representative tissue and appropriate laboratory or imaging correlation.
References and verification (optional)
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NMC official CBME Curriculum 2024 and current regulations index ↗