Pathways

Pathways are a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. In the context of medicine, pathways can refer to clinical pathways, biochemical pathways, or neural pathways, among others.

Clinical Pathways

Clinical pathways, also known as care pathways, integrated care pathways, critical pathways, or care maps, are one of the main tools used to manage the quality in healthcare concerning the standardization of care processes. They are used to detail the steps in a course of treatment or care in a plan format.

Biochemical Pathways

Biochemical pathways are sequences of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. In each pathway, a principal chemical is modified by a series of chemical reactions. Enzymes catalyze these reactions, and often require dietary minerals, vitamins, and other cofactors in order to function properly.

Neural Pathways

Neural pathways, or neural tracts, are connections formed by axons that project from neurons to make synapses onto neurons in another location, to enable a signal to be sent from one region of the nervous system to another. They are crucial for the overall function of the brain and nervous system.

See Also

• Healthcare quality
• Enzyme
• Nervous system

References

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