Cell Fate and Injury Flashcards
What is Lethal and sublethal cell injury?
Lethal: Produces cell death
Sublethal: produces injury which may be reversible
( cell death can also be due to inability of cells to adapt )
What are the causes of cell injury? 8
Oxygen deprivation
Chemical agents
Infectious agents
Immunological reactions
Genetic defects
Nutritional imbalances
Physical agents
Ageing
Which intracellular mechanisms are vulnerable and injury could be lethal?
Cell membrane integrity
ATP generation
Protein synthesis
Integrity of genetic apparatus
How can a lost cell function have a big effect?
Components of a cell are integrally related which can lead to secondary effects.
Cellular function loss followed by cell death followed by morphological changes.
( No ATP –> No membrane … )
What is Atrophy? Give examples ( 2 )
Shrinkage of cell/organ size due to loss of cell substance
- Dementia
- Atrophy secondary to denervation
What is Hypertrophy and why may it occur?
Increase in cell/organ size which can be physiological or pathological.
Due to either Increased functional demand or specific hormonal stimulation
What is a physiological Hypertrophy example?
Uterus:
During pregnancy
What is an example of Pathological hypertrophy?
Myocyte response to increased load : hypertrophy
Common in athletes
What is Hyperplasia?
Increase in the number of cells in an organ which can be pathological or physiological
What is an example of physiological hyperplasia?
Hormonal or compensatory
Uterus
Proliferative Endometrium glands
What is an example of pathological hyperplasia?
Carcinoma
- in a histology mitotic phases could be seen
What is Metaplasia?
Reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by another
What is an example of Physiological metaplasia?
Cervix:
Due to acidic pH of vagina, columnar epithelium –> Squamous
What is an example of Pathological metaplasia
Barrett’s Oesophagus:
Due to reflux from stomach squamous epithelium –>
columnar
What is Dysplasia?
Precancerous cells which show genetic and cytological features or malignancy
Do not invade underlying tissue
- Histology: may show an increase in mitotic phase but will still be on the basement membrane ( oesophagus example )