Cellular Changes Flashcards
atrophy
decrease in the size of cells due to a decrease in function demand
hypertrophy
increase in the size of cells due to an increase in functional demand
hyperplasia
increase in the number of cells due to an increase in functional demand and/or increased stress
metaplasia
mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type, typically due to increased stress
dysplasia
change in cell size, shape, uniformity, arrangement, and/or structure typically due to increased stress; considered to be pre-cancerous
anaplasia
undifferentiated cells with variable nuclear and cell structures; can imply more advanced cancer; irreversible
neoplasia
tumor; irreversible
ischemia
lack of blood flow
hypoxia
lack of oxygen
free radical
an electrically uncharged atom or group of atoms that contain and unpaired electron; damages cell membrane, DNA, etc.
hydropic swelling
cellular swelling due to accumulation of water
necrosis
cell death in an organ or tissue that is still part of a living organism
coagulative necrosis
characteristic of ischemia
liquefactive necrosis
occurs when some of the cells die, but lysosomal enzymes are not destroyed; characterized by formation of abscesses and cysts that are liquefied inside
fat necrosis
death of adipose tissue usually due to trauma
caseous necrosis
lung damage that is secondary to tuberculosis; dead cells persist indefinitely
gangrene
cellular death in a large area of tissue
dry gangrene
form of coagulative necrosis characterized by blackened, dry, wrinkled tissue separated by a line of demarcation from healthy tissue
wet gangrene
form of liquefactive necrosis typically found in internal organs but also can be seen outwardly; spreads quickly and has no strict line of demarcation
gas gangrene
results from infection of necrotic tissue by anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium); formation of gas bubbles in damaged tissue
apoptosis
programmed cell suicide to get rid of damaged, warn-out cells
