What does the term pathology refer to?

Pathology is defined as the study of diseases and the changes they cause in the body's tissues and organs. It encompasses the examination of abnormal conditions that can lead to various health issues. This aspect is crucial for understanding how diseases affect the body and for diagnosing and treating those diseases.

The term specifically focuses on the nature, causes, and effects of diseases, making option D the appropriate choice since it highlights the study of abnormal conditions of the body. In contrast, other options pertain to different aspects of health and biology, such as healthy states of the body, the study of normal bodily functions, or the genetics at a cellular level, which do not align with the specific focus of pathology on abnormal conditions.