hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, metaplasia and dysplasia

Question 1

define hypertrophy and give an example of when this can occur

Answer 1

increase in size of a tissue caused by an increase in size of the constituent cells
- occurs in organs where cells cannot divide
- eg increase in muscle mass

Question 2

define hyperplasia and give an example of when this can occur.

Answer 2

increase in size of a tissue caused by an increase in number of the constituent cells
- eg enlarged prostate
- can get this anywhere were cells divide

Question 3

give an example in which cells can undergo hyperplasia and hypertrophy

Answer 3

• smooth muscle of the uterus during pregnancy
• occurs in cells which can divide

Question 4

define atrophy and give an example

Answer 4

decrease in size of a tissue caused by a decrease in number of the constituent cells or a decrease in their size
- the brain during dementia
- muscle atrophy after having been immobile

Question 5

define metaplasia and give an example

Answer 5

change in differenciation of a cell from one fully-differenciated type to a different fully-differenciated type
- usually because there’s been a change in the environement
- this can happen when smoking, cells in the airways can fully differenciate into a different cell type
- barrets oesophagus

Question 6

define dysplasia

Answer 6

imprecise term for the morphological changes seen in cells in the progression to becoming cancer