Neuropathology is the study of diseases of the nervous system, and is a medical subspecialty within the specialty of anatomical pathology, itself a division within pathology in many English speaking countries. In contrast, there are a number of independent university chairs in neuropathology and even institutes of neuropathology in German speaking countries due to a different historical background. A physician who specializes in neuropathology, usually by completing a fellowship after a residency in anatomical or general pathology, is called a neuropathologist. In day-to-day clinical practice, a neuropathologist is a consultant for other physicians. If a disease of the nervous system is suspected, and the diagnosis cannot be made by less invasive methods, a biopsy of nervous tissue is taken and sent to the neuropathologist, who examines it using a microscope or certain molecular methods to make a definitive diagnosis. Many neuropathologists in Europe have a background in the clinical neurosciences (neurology, psychiatry) as well as pathology. Having a background in the neurosciences is of distinct advantage if not mandatory for research in neuropathology as numerous diseases of the brain tissue proper are still poorly understood. Alois Alzheimer was a famous founder of neuropathology. A European Board Examination in Neuropathology which emphasizes the importance of proper training in the neurosciences is currently being established (www.euro-cns.org). The nervous system of an animal coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and processes input from the senses, and initiates actions. ... Anatomical pathology is the branch of pathology that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the gross and microscopic examination of cells and tissues. ... Pathology (in ancient Greek pathos = feeling, pain, suffering and logos = discourse or treatise, i. ... A biopsy (in Greek: bios = life and opsy = look/appearance) is a medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination. ... Alois Alzheimer Alois Alzheimer (Alois is a short form for his given name Aloysius) (June 14, 1864 - December 19, 1915), a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist, was a colleague of Emil Kraepelin, who first identified the symptoms of what is now known as Alzheimers Disease. ...