Course Description
Clinical pathology examines disease through laboratory analysis of body fluids and tissues and plays a key role in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This course emphasizes understanding pathophysiologic mechanisms and interpreting hematologic, biochemical, and cytologic data across species to assess health and support clinical decision-making.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to submit 3-5 additional clinical case interpretations over the course of the semester.
Athena Title
Comparative Clinical Pathology
Prerequisite
VPHY 3100 or VPHY 3100E or VPHY 3107-3107D or CBIO 2210-2210L or CBIO 3710 or EHSC 2100 or POUL 4175 or POUL 4200/6200-4200L/6200L or WILD 4400/6400
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will explain the normal physiology of hematopoiesis, hemostasis, renal function, electrolyte balance, acid–base regulation, and organ system function (liver, pancreas, endocrine), including relevant species differences.
- Students will identify and classify normal and abnormal hematologic, biochemical, urinalysis, and coagulation parameters generated by common clinical pathology laboratory tests.
- Students will interpret complete blood counts, chemistry panels, urinalyses, coagulation profiles, and blood gas analyses to recognize common laboratory patterns associated with disease.
- Students will differentiate among major disease mechanisms (e.g., regenerative vs. non-regenerative anemia; pre-renal, renal, and post-renal azotemia; inflammatory vs. stress leukograms) using laboratory data and clinical context.
- Students will analyze laboratory abnormalities and correlate with underlying pathophysiologic processes affecting hematologic, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and musculoskeletal systems.
- Students will evaluate the clinical significance and limitations of laboratory findings, including the impact of species differences, sample collection, and testing methodologies on data interpretation.
Topical Outline
- Hematopoiesis and hematology basics
- Erythrocytes, erythrocytosis, and anemia
- Leukocytes and leukocyte responses
- Hemostasis
- Urinary
- Electrolytes
- Acid base
- Minerals
- Proteins and lipids
- Musculoskeletal
- Hepatobiliary
- Exocrine pancreas and GI
- Endocrine
- Cytology
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
