What field of study focuses on the causes and effects of diseases?

Pathology is the field of study that specifically focuses on the causes, effects, and nature of diseases. It encompasses the study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs that lead to or result from disease. This discipline is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of disease, including how they develop, how they affect the body, and the potential outcomes they may lead to.

Pathologists often examine biopsies, conduct autopsies, and analyze bodily fluids to provide insights into disease processes and inform diagnosis and treatment. This context places pathology at the core of medical diagnostics and plays an essential role in health care.

Immunology, while related to disease as it studies the immune system and its response to pathogens, does not broadly cover all aspects of diseases like pathology does. Radiology focuses on imaging techniques to diagnose diseases but does not directly involve the study of disease causation or effects. Biochemistry examines the chemical processes within and related to living organisms but is more about the molecular aspects rather than the broader implications of disease. Therefore, the emphasis on causes and effects distinctly aligns with pathology.