Cell Death Flashcards
What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis?
In apoptosis, cell death is programmed, whereas in necrosis, cell death is uncontrolled
What is autophagy?
Where the cell breaks down and destroys one of its own components in order to help maintain homeostasis
What are apoptic bodies?
A cluster of membrane bound bodies containing organelles
What happens to apoptic bodies?
Are taken up by neighbouring cells, or cells from the immune system
During apoptosis, how is damage to surrounding cells avoided?
Cells don’t spill their contents into the surrounding tissue
When does apoptosis occur?
Tissue remodelling, removal of potentially harmful cells, removal of non-functional immune cells
In adult tissues, when is homeostasis achieved?
When proliferation = apoptosis
What happens when there is insufficient cell death?
Cancer. Cell mass increases to make a tumour
What happens when there is excess cell death?
AIDS caused by loss of immune cells
What causes necrosis?
Caused by injury, either physical or toxin, or lack of blood
Why are neighbouring cells damaged?
Due to the released cell contents, and inflammation
