- Docente: Massimiliano Bonafè
- Credits: 8
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 5904)
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from Oct 01, 2025 to Dec 12, 2025
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student - is familiar with the concepts of disease, aetiology and pathogenesis, and also understands the aetiology of morbid processes and the pathogenetic mechanism of their development; - knows the fundamental biological defences put in place in response to pathogens, the morphological alterations in cells and tissues and the systemic and functional consequences for the organism - is able to link molecular, morphological, microbiological, immunological and physiological knowledge with the etiopathogenesis of morbid processes and the fundamental pathophysiological mechanisms of the organism; - is able to use basic biomedical and general pathology and pathophysiology knowledge for the critical interpretation of experimental and clinical data; - is able to understand the reasons for the signs and symptoms of morbid processes and has the basis for clinical practice based on objective findings.
Course contents
>Cellular damage:
-excitant and ionising radiation,
-electric power,
-high and low temperatures,
- cigarette smoke,
- ethanol abuse;
>Cellular and extracellular pathology:
- morphological degeneration,
- hypertrophy,
- hyperplasia,
- atrophy,
- metaplasia.
- programmed cell death,
- cell senescence
- neoplastic transformation.
>acute inflammation:
- vascular phenomena,
- cellular phenomena,
- types of exudates
- resolution;
>Systemic inflammation
- fever
- metabolic remodelling
- sepsis
>Chronic inflammation
- non-specific
- granulomatous
- tuberculosis,
- wound regeneration and repair
- sclerosis,
- cirrhosis.
> Dystrophic and metastatic calcifications;
> Amyloidosis;
> General pathophysiology:
- Fever,
- edema;
- Hypoxia and cyanosis;
- Hypertension;
- Shock;
- Infarction;
> Haemostasis and Thrombosis;
> Atherosclerosis and complications;
> Diabetes mellitus and complications;
> Diabesity and meta-inflammation
> Ageing and inflammaging;
Readings/Bibliography
Robbins-Cotran, The pathological basis of disease, 9th edition, Elsevier.
Pontieri, Rossi, Frati: Patologia Generale, 4° edizione, Piccin
Teaching methods
Lectures viva voce. It is advisable to use the teaching material available on "Virtuale".
Assessment methods
The examination is oral and is designed to assess the knowledge acquired by the student on the teaching topics in order to achieve the teaching objectives. The examination assesses the student's ability to frame the topic of general pathology or general physiopathology on which he/she is questioned and to expound it by making the necessary logical-deductive connections, also in relation to specific morphological alterations. The coherence of the conceptual sequence and the appropriateness of the scientific language are further elements of assessment. The examination of the General Pathology and Pathophysiology Course includes the observation and oral description of a microscopic preparation up to the recognition of the specific histopathological picture.
Grading of the final grade
Insufficient: deficient preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors.
18-19: knowledge of basic concepts without serious deficiencies. Exposition of concepts and language on the whole acceptable.
20-24: knowledge of basic concepts without gaps. Ability to analyse and connect topics in partial autonomy. Adequate exposition of concepts and language.
25-29: good or very good preparation or even very good preparation but with inaccuracies in exposition that compromise the achievement of a full mark. Ability to analyse and link independently. Exposition of concepts in the correct sequence and command of language.
30-30L: full, consolidated preparation with no inaccuracies on topics covered in the course. Ability to frame the topic promptly. Ability to analyse and link independently. Concepts in the correct order and full fluency of the specific language.
The examination will cover the topics covered in the lecture and will be taken with the professor who taught the course. Each student will therefore take two tests in Pathology and General Pathophysiology, which will count for 50% of the final grade. The General Pathology Laboratory test will also be taken during one of the two tests. The final mark will be derived from the mathematical average of the two marks obtained in the individual tests approximated by excess (26.5=27). Honours will be awarded to the student who has been proposed for honours by at least one of the two Professors and only if a full mark (30/30) has been achieved in the other part.
The course slides can be downloaded from the ‘Virtual’ site
Teaching tools
The course slides can be downloaded from “Virtuale”.
Office hours
See the website of Massimiliano Bonafè
SDGs

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.