Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

2.2 Biological Basis of Disease > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Define proliferation

A

Cell proliferation is the process that results in an increase of the number of cells, and is defined by the balance between cell divisions and cell loss through cell death or differentiation.

Pathological proliferation is seen following tissue damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define apoptosis
(4)

A

Programmed cell death is termed apoptosis

It is a complicated process in which nuclei condense and fragmentation of the cell occurs forming apoptotic bodies.

The cytoplasmic organelles remain intact during these events.

Apoptosis is a physiological event but may be induced by pathological conditions e.g. malignancy, infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define necrosis
(2)

A

Accidental cell death - necrosis - occurs when a cell is damaged as a consequence of some injurious stimulus e.g. when it is derived of oxygen

The cell and cytoplasmic organelles swell and rupture, spilling their contents into the surrounding environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define hyperplasia

A

Increase int he number of cells in response to increased functional demands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define neoplasia

A

When inappropriate or excessive cellular growth persists in the absence of any continuing stimulus the resulting tissue mass is termed a neoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Define hyperplasia

A

Increase in the number of cells in response to increased functional demands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define neoplasia

A

When inappropriate or excessive cellular growth persists in the absence of any continuing stimulus the resulting tissue mass is termed a neoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define hypertrophy

A

Increase in the size of cell because of extra functional demands, e.g. skeletal muscle following exercise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define atrophy

A

Decrease in cell size due to decreased demanded on the cell or tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Define metaplasia

A

Alteration in cell morphology due to changes in cell differentiation. This results in a change to another cell type (usually associated with trauma or irritation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Define dyplasia

A

Abnormal growth of a tissue or organ, cells present may signify the stage preceding the development of cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define inclusions

A

Inclusions are stored nutrients, secretory products, and pigment granules

e.g. bile, iron, copper, fat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define fibrosis

A

The formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue in a reparative or reactive process

This can be a reactive, benign, or pathological state

In response to injury, this is called scarring, and if fibrosis arises from a single cell line, this is called a fibroma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define amyloid

A

An abnormal extracellular protein, which is derived from many precursor proteins and gives rise to a condition called Amyloidosis

It is deposited extracellularly as a homogenous acellular substance and is most commonly found in the walls of blood vessels, beneath the endothelial linings

The progressive nature of deposition may result in occlusion of vessels and destruction of parenchyma with loss or organ function

The condition may be systemic or localised. In systemic conditions, amyloid is deposited in a wide variety of tissues and organs such as kidneys, spleen, liver, adrenal glands and heart

In localised form it is present only in the organ involved

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Define foam cells

A

A type of macrophage that localise to fatty deposits on blood vessel walls, where they ingest low-density lipoproteins and become laden with lipids, giving them a foamy appearance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Define cirrhosis

A

Defined histologically as diffuse hepatic process characterised by fibrosis and conversion of the normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Define cirrhosis

A

a diffuse hepatic process characterised by fibrosis and conversion of the normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Define inflammation

A

A process by which the body attempts to deal with injury to the tissues

Such damage may be caused by a variety of physical, chemical or biological agents

In the inflammatory response the body attempts to eliminate or neutralise injurious agents and repair the tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Define acute inflammation

A

The initial series of events following injury to a tissue, directed towards neutralizing the injurious agents and restoring the tissues to useful function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define resolution

A

When tissue damage is minimal, the exudate is reabsorbed into local vessels and no evidence of injury remains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define inflammatory exudate

A

Composed of serum, leucocytes (mostly PMLs? and fibrin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define chronic inflammation

A

Results from persistence of injurious stimulus over a long period of time causing continuing tissue damage

It most commonly follows acute inflammation where the process has failed to eradicate the causative agent

23
Q

Define granulomas

A

An organised collection of inflammatory cells including activated macrophages (epitheliod histiocytes), Langhand’s giant cells (multinucleated macrophages) and lymphocytes

Granulomas are associated with M. tuberculosis infections where organism is resistant to destruction by neutrophils and fail to excite a strong acute reaction

24
Q

Define exudate

A

Acute inflammation exudate can be:
- purulent: Neutrophils dominate
- Fibrinous: fibrin abundant
- Serous: fluid is major component

25
Q

Define granulation tissue

A

When tissue damage is extensive, the exudate undergoes a process called organisation and repair

In this process the dead tissue is phagocytosed and the necrotic area is replaced with granulation tissue composed of a vascularised connective tissue laid down by fibroblasts

26
Q

Define hyperaemia

A

An increase in the amount of blood in the tissue

Typically seen in acute inflammation due to the release of histamine which stimulated blood flow to the area

27
Q

Define granuloma

A

Some microorganisms are resistant to destruction by neutrophils and
fail to excite a strong acute reaction. The initial neutrophil response is usually sparse
and is quickly followed by a macrophage response. This local accumulation of
macrophages produces a discrete lesion called a granuloma

28
Q

Define giant cell

A

Activated macrophages enlarge and sometimes fuse to form multinucleated giant cells (Langhan’s giant cells)

29
Q

Define a koilocyte

A

A squamous epithelial cell that has undergone a number of structural changes, which occur as a result of infection of the cell by human papillomavirus

30
Q

What is neoplasia
(2)

A

When inappropriate or excessive cellular
growth persists in the absence of any
continuing stimulus the resulting tissue mass
is termed a neoplasm

In neoplasia, the mechanisms regulating cell
division fail and this lack of regulation
characteristic is transmitted to each new
generation of cells

31
Q

What are benign neoplasms

A

These may grow large but do not spread into, or invade nearby tissues or other parts of the body

Contained within epithelium or connective tissue capsule/sheath

32
Q

What are malignant neoplasms?

A

Can display aggressive characteristics, spread into, or invade nearby tissues

Can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems

Cancer is a term that is associated with malignant neoplasms

33
Q

What is dysplasia

A

Abnormal cells within a tissue or organ

Morphologically the cells look abnormal however they are not classified as cancerous

Can be graded as mild, moderate, or severe depending on how abnormal the cells look under a microscope and how much of the tissue or organ is affected

May be a stage of abnormality preceding development of malignancy in some tissues

34
Q

Define intraepithelial neoplasia
(5)

A

Development of benign neoplasm or high grade dysplasia in an epithelium

The neoplastic cells are still contained within (intra) the epithelium and have not yet invaded through the basement membrane of the epithelium or gland

The epithelial cell of origin can be either:
- squamous - CIN/VAIN/VIN
- Glandular - CGIN/PIN

35
Q

Define carcinoma in-situ

A

Abnormal cells presenting as ‘non-invasive’ malignancy

The morphology of the cells meets the criteria of malignancy but they have not yet invaded surrounding tissue

While still localized, CIS have a high probability of progressing to become invasive

36
Q

Give three examples of Carcinoma in situ

A

Ductal carcinoma in-situ of breast
Lobular carcinoma in-situ of breast
Bladder carcinoma in-situ

37
Q

Define a haemangioma

A

Benign neoplasm of blood vessels. Increased number of blood vessels surrounded by connective tissue

38
Q

Define phaeochromocytoma

A

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla composed of chromaffin cells, also known as pheochromocytes

39
Q

Define well differentiated

A

Phenotypically similar to cell of origin. Look the same, expresses same antigens

Squamous carcinomas - may have keratinization
Adenocarcinomas - form glands, may produce

40
Q

Define moderately differentiated

A

Similar to cell of origin, but not fully structurally similar

41
Q

Define poorly differentiated

A

Some similarities, but not forming structural components

42
Q

Define undifferentiated (anaplastic)

A

No resemblance to cell of origin, often immuno-negative for biomarker found on cell of origin

43
Q

Define differentiation

A

Refers to tumour grading system based on how much the cells have matured and look like the normal cells in the tissue from which it arose

How much the cells have phenotypically developed to look like terminally differentiated cells

Differentiation is important as a prognostic indicator and often well differentiated tumours have a better prognosis that poorly or undifferentiated tumours

44
Q

Define microinvasion

A

Tumour is invading through the basement membrane, but can only be seen microscopically

45
Q

Define micrometastases

A

Small microscopic foci of clumps of tumour cells

46
Q

Define occult metastases

A

Metastases are hidden or not easily seen

47
Q

Define distant metastases
(2)

A

Tumour has spread to another distant organ through lymphatic or vascular spread

Common sites are lung, liver, bone, brain

48
Q

Define invasion

A

Refers to the direct extension and penetration by cancer cells into neighbouring tissues

49
Q

Define metastasis

A

Refers to the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body via the blood or lymph system

This is a multistep process

50
Q

What is an adenocarcinoma

A

malignancy of glandular epithelium

51
Q

What is a squamous cell carcinoma

A

Malignancy of squamous cells

52
Q

growth of blood vessels

A

Haemangioma

53
Q

Adrenal medulla malignancy

A

Phaeochromocytoma

2.2 Biological Basis of Disease (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions