[Perspectives of the development of current pathological anatomy]

The author presents a general picture of the progress of morphological methods of investigations and gives a historical evaluation of the role of autopsy and examinations of biopsy specimens in the clinical practice. On this basis the author outlines the three main directions in the development of pathological anatomy: (1) continuous increase of the accuracy of the structural analysis of vital activity processes; (2) increasingly complete and diverse functional evaluation of morphological lesions, and (3) maximum extention of contacts, particularly "vital", with the clinic. Further development of these directions will determine the prostpects of development of pathological anatomy.