FOM 2.3.3 Flashcards
What does idiopathic mean?
Pathogenesis or etiology of a disease in unknown
What does pathognomonic mean?
Morphologic changes in cell and tissue structure may either be characteristic or suggestive of the disease process in question or they may be absolutely diagnostic
What is the central dogma of pathology?
Molecular damage leads to cellular dysfunction with morphologic abnormalities leads to organ dysfunction which leads to clinical symptoms
What is hypertrophy?
An increase in the size of individual cells, in response to stimulus or injury. Usually results in increased size or weight of an organ.
What is the differenct between these two slides?
Both are images of cardiac muscle. The image on the right is experience hypertrophy. Notice the enlarged nuclei which are a result from the need for more DNA and transcription
What is hypertrophy a result of?
Hypertrophy is the result of increased production of cellular proteins.
What is currently used to treat hypertrophy?
Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and Angiotension Receptor Blockers
What is hyperplasia?
An increase in the absolute number of cells in response to a stimulus or persistent cellular injury.
What is a good example of hyperplasia?
A normal breast vs a breast that is lactating
What is the difference between physiologic hyperplasia vs pathologic hyperplasia?
Physiologic hyperplasia due to the action of hormones or growth factors occurs in several circumstances: when there is a need to increase functional capacity of hormone sensitive organs; when there is need for compensatory increase after damage or resection. Ex. Breast growing during pregnancy
Most forms of pathologic hyperplasia are caused by excessive or inappropriate actions of hormones or growth factors acting on target cells.
Ex. Endometrial hyperplasia
What is atrophy?
Atrophy is defined as a reduction in the size of an organ or tissue due to a decrease in cell size and number. Atrophy can be physiologic or pathologic. Physiologic atrophy is common during normal development. Some embryonic structures, such as the notochord and thyroglossal duct, undergo atrophy during fetal development. The decrease in the size of the uterus that occurs shortly after parturition is another form of physiologic atrophy.
How can the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway play a role in atrophy?
Atrophy results from decreased protein synthesis and increased protein degradation in cells. Protein synthesis decreases because of reduced metabolic activity. The degradation of cellular proteins occurs mainly by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Nutrient deficiency and disuse may activate ubiquitin ligases, which attach the small peptid ubiquitin to cellular proteins and target these for degradation.
What is metaplasia?
Metaplasia is a reversible, induced change in the type of mucosal epithelium, e.g. from ciliated columnar epithelium to squamous epithelium brought about by various forms of chronic injury.
What is dysplasia?
Dysplasia means disordered growth, most commonly seen by squamous epithelial cells following chronic injury. Characterized by variations in size and shape of the cell, disorderly arrangements within the epithelium, and nuclear changes. Still considered to be reversible
How can the death of cells be used in a clinical setting for interpretation?
Cell death may release enzymes or structural proteins into the serum that may be analyzed in the clinical lab for diagnosis
