 Definitions of oral pathology

• ABFRACTION:
A form of non-carious tooth tissue loss that occurs along the gingival
margin. It forms an angular notch at the gumline caused by the bending
forces applied to the tooth.

• ABRASION:
The loss of tooth structure by mechanical forces from a foreign element
e.g. tooth brush.

• ABSCESS:
• A localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by disintegration of tissues and
manifested as a swollen area within body tissue.
• Acantholysis:
• The loss of intercellular connections such as desmosomal, resulting in loss of
cohesion between cells of stratum spinosum.

• ACANTHOSIS
• A diffuse epithelial hyperplasia due to increase in thickness of stratum spinosum.
• ACUTE
• Symptoms of severe or intense degree of a short course.

• ADENOMA
• A benign tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.
• AGRANULOCYTOSIS
• A deficiency of granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, mast cells) in the
blood, causing increased vulnerability to infections.

• Anaplasia
• A condition of cells in which they have poor cellular differentiation, losing the
morphological characteristics of mature cells and their orientation with respect to
each other and to endothelial cells.
• anastomosis
• The connection of two structures. It refers to connections between blood vessels or
between other tubular structures such as loops of intestine by collateral channels.

• ANEMIA
• A condition in which there is a deficiency of erythrocytes or of hemoglobin in the
blood resulting in pallor and weariness.
• ANGIOMA
• A tumor whose cells tend to form blood vessels (hemangioma) or lymph vessels
(lymphangioma).

• ANOMALY
• A structural abnormalities or marked deviation from normal especially as a result of
hereditary or congenital defects.
• ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
• A group of diseases characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of
the arteries, occurring typically in old age.
• ATRESIA
• Congenital absence or abnormal narrowing of an opening or passage in the body.
• ATROPHY
• (of body tissue or an organ) a wasting away, especially as a result of the
degeneration of cells resulting in diminution of size of an organ or become vestigial
during evolution.

• attrition
• A type of tooth wear caused by tooth to tooth contact, resulting in loss of tooth tissue
usually starting at the incisal or occlusal surfaces.
• Autoimmunity
• A process characterized by immune responses of an organism against its own cells
and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberriant immune response is
termed as autoimmune disease.

• Biopsy
• A microscopic examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the
presence, cause or extent of a disease.
• Blanching
• Whitening or pallor of a mucosal surface or due to transient ischemia.

• bleb
• A circumscribed fluid containing elevated lesion of the skin usually at least 1 cm in
diameter.
• Bosselated
• Appearance of lesion marked by numerous bosses or rounded protuberance.

• calcification
• It is the accumulation of calcium salts in a body tissue. It normally occurs in the
formation of bone but calcium can be deposited abnormally in soft tissue causing it
to harden.
• Callus
• A thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue resulting from hyperplasia of
stratum corneum especially in an area that has been subjected to pressure or friction.

• Capsule
• A fibrous membranous or fatty sheath that encloses an organ or part such as the sac
surrounding the kidney or the fibrous tissues that surrounds a joint.
• Carcinoma
• Malignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the
surrounding tissues and to give rise to metastases.

• carcinosarcoma
• A biphasic malignant tumor with a carcinosarcoma component and a sarcomatous
component.
• Cellulitis
• Inflammation of subcutaneous connective tissue in which thin, watery exudate
spreads through the cleavage planes of interstitial and tissue spaces that may lead to
ulceration or abscess formation.

• central
• Lesion located within bone opposite of peripheral.
• Relating to or comprising the brain and spinal cord.
• Chemotherapy
• The treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances especially the treatment
of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs.

• Choriostoma
• A mass of histologically normal tissue in an abnormal location.
• Chronic inflammation
• Inflammation that may have a rapid or slow onset but is characterized primarily by
its long term persistence and lack of clear resolution if occurs when the tissues are
unable to overcome the effects of the injuring agents.

• cleidocranial
• Pertaining to clavicles and head. A condition that affects the development of the
bones and teeth. Signs and symptoms of cleidocranial dysplasia can vary widely in
severity even within the same family. Individuals have absent collarbones.
• clubbing
• A condition affecting the fingers and toes in which proliferation of distal tissues and
widening of the extremities of the digits, the nails are abnormally curved and shiny.

• collagen
• The main structural protein found in animal connective tissue yielding strength and
flexibility.
• Congenital
• Existing at or usually before birth.
• cyanosis
• A bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation
of the blood.
• cyst
• Pathological cavity lined by epithelium or a membranous sac containing fluid.

• Deformity
• Distortion of any part of the body in general.
• Degeneration
• The state or process of being or becoming degenerate, decline or deterioration.

• Dental caries
• Also known as tooth decay cavities or caries is a breakdown of teeth due to activities
of bacteria. The cavities maybe a number of different colors from yellow to black.
• Desquamation
• Called as skin peeling. The shedding of the outermost membrane or layer of tissue
such as the skin in form of scales and sheets.

• differentiation
• The act or process of acquiring completely individual characters as occurs in
progressive diversification of embryonic cells and tissues.
• Diffuse
• Spread out over a large area not concentrated.

• disease
• A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal or plant especially one that
produces specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
• Dominant
• Controlling or ruling over in genetics capable of expressing when carried by only
one pair of homologous chromosome.

• Dysplasia
• Alteration in size, shape, and organization of adult cells.
• echymosis
• A nonelevated, rounded or irregular blue or purplish patchy discoloration of the skin
or mucous membrane resulting from bleeding underneath typically caused by
bruising.

• Ectopic
• An abnormal place or position.
• enanthema
• A mucous membrane eruption, especially one occurring in connection with one of
the exanthemas.

• epulis
• Any tumor like enlargement (i.e. lump) situated on the gingival or alveolar mucosal
the word literally mean
• Erosion(of teeth)
• Also known as dental erosion. A type of tooth wear. The irreversible loss of tooth
structure due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial organ.

• Erosion(of soft tissue)

• A gradual destruction of tissue by some physical or chemical action.
• erythema
• Superficial reddening of the skin usually in patches as a result of injury or irritation
causing congestion of the blood capillaries.

• Exanthema
• A skin rash accompanying a disease usually of viral origin or fever.
• exophytic
• Tending to grow outward beyond the surface epithelium from which it originates
used for tumors.

• exostosis
• A benign outgrowth of cartilaginous or osseous tissue on a bone surface.
• Extravasation
• A discharge or escape as of blood or fluid from vessels or duct into the surrounding
tissues.

• Extrinsic
• Not part of the essential nature of someone or something coming or originating from
exterior.
• Exudate
• A fluid with high content of protein and cellular debris that has seeped out of blood
vessels or an organ especially in inflammation.

• Familial
• Occurring in more members of a family than would be expected by chance.
• fissure
• A linear cleft, groove or defect occurring normally or otherwise.

• Fistula
• An abnormal or surgically made passage between a hollow or tubular organ and the
body surface or between two hollow or tubular organs.
• Focus of infection
• A central point or locus of an infection in an organism.

• fusiform
• Tapering at both ends; spindle-shaped.
• Granulation tissue
• A new connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surfaces of
a wound during the healing process.

• granuloma
• A localized accumulation of epithelioid macrophages, multinucleated giant cells and
lymphocytes. These are formed in response to certain micro organisms in specific
infections against foreign particles or as a part of immune response.
• hamartoma
• A developmental abnormality in which all the tissue components are present but
their organization or relative proportions or both are abnormal.

• hematoma
• A localized accumulation of blood that forms in a tissue, organ, or body space as a
result of a broken blood vessels, disease or a blood clothing disorder. It can occur as
a result of puncturing a blood vessel when administering a nerve block injection to
obtain analgesia.
• Hemiplegia
• Paralysis of one side of the body. Facial hemiplegia affects one side of the face only.

• Heredity
• Passing of traits from parents to their offspring either through sexual or asexual
reproduction. This is the process by which an organism becomes predisposed to the
characterized of its parent cells.
• Hyaline
• A substance with glassy appearance. Hyalinization is a change in the tissues
characterized by a homogeneous, acellular and avascular appearance.

• Hydropic degeneration
• Hydropic change is one of the early sign if cellular degeneration in response to
injury. Hydropic changes refer to the accumulation of water in the cell.
• Hyperplasia
• An abnormal multiplication or increase in the normal cells in a tissue or organ. The
affected tissue or organ increases in size but retains its normal shape. It usually
occurs in response to an injurious agent or chronic irritation such as a fracture tooth
crown.

• Hypoplasia
• The defective or under development of an organ or tissue such as the
underdevelopment of parts of a tooth.
• Idiopathic
• Describing a disease or medical condition of unknown cause in which occurs
spontaneously.

• Immunodeficiency
• A condition resulting from a reduced or deficient immune response. This maybe a
primary condition due to a defect in the immune system or secondary condition as a
result of a disease process such as AIDS.
• infection
• The growth and multiplication of a parasite organism (micro organism including
bacteria, fungi and viruses)within the tissues of body. The growth of normal
commensal flora (e.g. in the oral cavity or the intestinal tract) is not usually
considered an infection.

• Inflammation
A localized physical condition in which part of body became reddened, swollen ,
hot and often painful especially as a reaction to injury or infection.

• Juxtaepithelial
Combining or near to epithelium.

• Karolysis
Dissolution of cell nucleus with loss of its affinity for basic stains sometimes
occurring normally but usually in necrosis.

• karyopyknosis
 A cytologic condition characterized by shrinkage of the nucleus with condensation
of chromatin into a solid structure less mass or masses as in cornified cells of stratified
squamous epithelium.

• Karyorrhexis
Fragmentation of pyknotic cell nucleus in which the chromatin disintegrate into
unstructured granules it is followed by dissolution (karyolysis).

• lesion
An area of tissue damage due to disease or trauma resulting in impaired function.
Primary lesion include abcess , ulcers, tumors. Secondary lesion such as crusts ans
scars are derived from primary lesions.

• Leukemia
A malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood forming
organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes the increase in
abnormal white blood cells suppresses the production of normal white cells , red blood
cells and platelets leading to anemia with increased susceptibility to infection.

• Leukoplakia
A potentially malignant disorder presenting as thickend white patches that develop on
the sides of tongue ,floor of mouth , gingiva , palate , buccal mucosa patches cannot
be removed by rubbing are found more frequently where there is a history of betel
quid chewing.

• Localized
Restricted to the limited region.

• Lump
A compact mass of a substance, especially one without a definite shape .

• Lupus
Name formally given to numerous type of localized destruction or degeneration of
the skin caused by cutaneous disease.

• lymphoma
A malignant neoplasm of cells of immune system it is further divided into two
categories non Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma. Both of these are derived from
either B or T lymphocytes.

• Macule
 A circumscribed changed in the color of skin or mucous membrane that is neither
raised nor depressed and is distinguished from the surrounding tissue.

• Metaplasia
A reversible condition characterized by the replacement of one mature cell type
with another mature cell type it can be caused by chronic exposure to toxins,
chronic inflammation or physical irritants e.g. metaplasia is frequently seen in
respiratory tract of smokers.

• Metastasis
The spread of a malignant tumor to a distant parts of the body it usually occurs via
the bloodstream through the lymphatic system or across body cavities.

• Mutation
A change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell in a point mutation there is a change
in the single gene in the chromosomal mutations there is a change in the structure or
number of the chromosomes. All mutations are rare events and may occur
spontaneously or be caused by external agents (mutagens). If a mutation occurs in
developing sex cells (gametes) it may be inherited. Mutations in any other cells
(somatic mutation) are not inherited.

• Natal teeth
Teeth present at birth. They may be present due to premature eruption of primary
teeth or they may be supernumery teeth. The most commonly affected teeth are the
mandibular incisors. They can cause discomfort to the nursing mother and may
necessitates extraction.

• necrosis
the death of some or all the cells in a tissue or organ it may be caused by disease
physical trauma or chemical trauma, radiation or interruption of the blood supply.

• Neonatal teeth:
Neonatal period is the period pertaining to the first 4 weeks after birth.
Neonatal teeth are the teeth that may erupt during the period immediately after
birth and till the first 28 days of life.
• Neoplasia:
Neoplasia is the process of abnormal mass of tissue (neoplasm) that result when
the cells divide more in number then normal or do not die when they should.
They are divided into benign neoplasms and malignant neoplasms.

• Nodule:
A small swelling or knot of tissue which can be easily felt. It may be
Present in the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue.

• Neuralgia:
 Pain associated with a nerve or nerves. Trigeminal Neuralgia (tic douloureux)
Is characterized by severe paroxysms of pain, affecting areas of the face in the
Region of distribution of the trigeminal nerve and can be associated with
Involuntary construction of the facial muscles; it is frequently initiated by a very
minor stimulus (trigger zone) which causes sufferers to be very protective of the
trigger zone.

• Neuroma:
An overgrowth of nerve tissue usually associated with injury to a nerve such as
following tooth extraction. They may also occur in multiple endocrine neoplasia
syndromes.
• Nldus:
A focus of infection as a result of favourable local conditions for bacterial growth.

• Oncocyte:
An epithelial cell characterized by markedly pink cytoplasm containing numerous
abnormal mitochondria resulting a granular appearance.
their numbers increase with age in salivary glands, they are also found in certain
salivary glands tumours.
• Oral Submucous Fibrous:
Oral Submucous fibrosis is a chronic, complex precancerous condition of the mouth
Characterized by juxta-epithelial inflammatory reaction and progressive fibrosis of
the submucosal tissue. As the disease progresses, jaws become rigid to the person is
unable to open the mouth.

• Osteodystrophy:
Any generalized term used for abnormal development of bone. The condition is
Usually attributable to renal disease known as renal Osteodystrophy marked by
chronic kidney failure leading to diffuse bone changes resulting from a number
of factor, including pseudomembranes on tonsils, pharynx, and nasal cavity are
pathognomonic for diphtheria).individual pathognomonic signs are relatively
 uncommon.

• Petechiae
Small localized areas of blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin or mucosa,
Characterized by small dark red spots.
They are typical of some blood dyscrasias, vitamin C deficiency, and sub-acute
Bacterial endocarditis.

 Plaque:
A biofilm consisting of an organized Bacterial community, salivary mucins and
proteins adhering to teeth surfaces, restorations, and prosthetic appliances.

 Precancerous condition:
 A generalized condition in which the patient has a higher risk of developing
malignancy. Oral include lichen planus, submucous fibrosis plummer vinson
(pattersonkelly) syndrome, and discold lup erythematosus.

 Precancerous lesion
A morphologically altered tissue which has a higher risk of turning malignant
than normal tissue in the oral cavity leukoplakia and erythroplakia are
premalignant lessons.
 Pseudoepithellomatous hyperplasia:
Pseudoepithellomatous hyperplasia (PEH) is a benign marked increase and
downgrowth of epithelial cells. It is a nonspecific reactive hyperplasia of stratified
Mucocutaneous epithelia, which simulates squamous cell carcinoma and may be
seen.