Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Cell Pathology > L.8 Minerals & Pigments > Flashcards

L.8 Minerals & Pigments Flashcards

1
Q

What is a pigment?

A

A pigment is a material that changes the colour of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption.

In biology, pigments are defined as substances occurring in living matter that absorb visible light.

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

List the three types of pigments.

A
  • Endogenous
  • Exogenous
  • Artefact
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are endogenous pigments?

A

Pigments that occur naturally within the body, including haematogenous and non-haematogenous pigments.

Haematogenous pigments are blood-derived, while non-haematogenous pigments are not.

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

Give examples of haematogenous pigments.

A
  • Haemosiderins
  • Haemoglobin
  • Bile pigments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are non-haematogenous pigments?

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

Describe haemosiderins.

A

Haemosiderin appears as golden-yellow to brown granular pigment, typically within the cytoplasm of macrophages and other cells. It is an iron-storage complex primarily containing ferric hydroxide (Fe³⁺).

Haemosiderin represents a breakdown product of hemoglobin.

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

What pathological condition is associated with iron overload?

A

Haemosiderosis or haemochromatosis

Excessive iron accumulates as haemosiderin, particularly in the liver, pancreas, and heart.

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

What conditions can lead to iron overload?

A
  • Hereditary haemochromatosis
  • Repeated blood transfusions
  • Chronic hemolytic anaemias
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the effect of iron deficiency?

A

Leads to anaemia, where tissues become iron-depleted, reducing hemoglobin synthesis and oxygen delivery.

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

What stain is used to detect ferric iron in haemosiderin?

A

Perls’ Prussian Blue stain

Iron reacts with potassium ferrocyanide under acidic conditions to form a blue pigment (ferriferrocyanide).

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

Fill in the blank: Haemosiderin is primarily composed of _______.

A

ferric hydroxide (Fe³⁺)

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

What is the primary system responsible for breaking down senescent red blood cells?

A

Reticuloendothelial system

Primarily occurs in the spleen.

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

What are the three main components produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin?

A
  • Globin (protein)
  • Iron
  • Heme

Globin is recycled for amino acids, iron is reused or stored, and heme is converted into biliverdin and then bilirubin.

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

What color pigment is formed from the conversion of heme?

A

Bilirubin (yellow-orange pigment)

Biliverdin is the intermediate green pigment.

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

What are common causes of bile pigment accumulation?

A
  • Biliary obstruction (e.g., gallstones, tumors)
  • Hepatocellular damage (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis)
  • Enzymatic defects in bilirubin metabolism (e.g., Gilbert’s or Crigler-Najjar syndrome)

Accumulation can lead to jaundice and tissue pigmentation.

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

What histological stain can show bile as a brown-green pigment?

A

Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)

It highlights bile pigment deposits in hepatocytes or bile canaliculi.

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

What is the purpose of Fouchet’s Stain?

A

To oxidize bilirubin to green biliverdin

This highlights bile pigment deposits.

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

What is melanin and where is it synthesized?

A

A brown-black intracellular pigment synthesized by melanocytes from the amino acid tyrosine

The synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosinase.

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

What are the physiological roles of melanin?

A
  • Provides UV protection
  • Involved in neurological function

Particularly in brain regions like the substantia nigra.

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

What autoimmune condition results in patchy skin depigmentation?

A

Vitiligo

It is characterized by the loss of melanocytes.

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

What genetic defect is associated with albinism?

A

Tyrosinase deficiency

This leads to generalized hypopigmentation.

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

What is melanoma?

A

A malignant tumor of melanocytes

It is a serious form of skin cancer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Which staining method uses silver ions to visualize melanin?

A

Masson-Fontana stain

This method reveals melanin as visible black metallic silver.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the purpose of potassium permanganate bleaching?

A

To oxidize and remove melanin pigment

It is used as a control in staining procedures.

25
Which immunohistochemical marker is highly sensitive for melanocytes?
S100 protein ## Footnote It is not specific to melanocytes.
26
What does HMB-45 detect?
A melanosomal protein ## Footnote It is more specific for melanin-producing cells than S100.
27
Fill in the blank: Melanin is synthesized from the amino acid _______.
tyrosine
28
What is the Masson-Fontana technique used for in melanoma investigation?
Demonstrates argentaffin reaction of melanin ## Footnote This technique is used to identify melanin in tissue samples.
29
What does Schmorl’s stain detect?
Reducing substances like melanin ## Footnote This stain is useful for highlighting melanin in histological samples.
30
What is the purpose of bleaching with potassium permanganate in melanoma investigation?
Confirms pigment identity by removing it ## Footnote This technique helps to differentiate between pigments in tissue samples.
31
What does S100 immunohistochemistry identify?
Melanocytes and neural tissues ## Footnote S100 is a very sensitive marker used in melanoma diagnosis.
32
Which immunohistochemical marker is more specific to melanocytic tumors?
HMB-45 ## Footnote HMB-45 is often used to confirm the presence of melanoma.
33
What do Melan-A and Tyrosinase confirm in melanoma testing?
Melanocytic origin ## Footnote These markers are used to ascertain the melanocytic lineage of tumors.
34
What is SOX10 used as in melanoma investigation?
Recently used nuclear marker for melanocytes and melanoma ## Footnote SOX10 is important for identifying melanoma cells.
35
What does the detection of BRAF mutations inform?
Targeted therapy (e.g., BRAF inhibitors) ## Footnote BRAF mutations, especially V600E, are crucial for treatment decisions.
36
What is genetic profiling used for in melanoma?
Staging and therapeutic planning ## Footnote It helps in determining the best treatment approach.
37
What is lipofuscin commonly referred to as?
Wear-and-tear or aging pigment ## Footnote This term describes its accumulation in aging tissues.
38
What is lipofuscin composed of?
Lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion and oxidized proteins/lipids ## Footnote This composition contributes to its brownish appearance.
39
In which types of cells does lipofuscin increase with age?
* Neurons * Cardiac myocytes * Hepatocytes ## Footnote These long-lived cells accumulate lipofuscin over time.
40
What pathological condition is associated with excessive accumulation of lipofuscin?
Ceroid-lipofuscinosis ## Footnote This is a storage disease affecting the brain.
41
What staining method highlights lipofuscin via its reducing capacity?
Schmorl’s stain ## Footnote This stain is effective for visualizing lipofuscin in tissues.
42
What does Sudan Black B stain?
Lipids and lipofuscin ## Footnote This stain is used to visualize lipid content in histological samples.
43
Which staining method occasionally highlights lipofuscin due to its lipid-rich nature?
Ziehl-Neelsen ## Footnote This method is not primarily for lipofuscin but can reveal it under certain conditions.
44
What are exogenous pigments?
Pigments that have no physiological function, gained by inhalation or implantation ## Footnote Examples include carbon in the air and tattoo pigments in the skin.
45
What are artefact pigments?
Non-biological pigments formed during tissue processing or fixation, mainly due to acidic fixatives like unbuffered formalin ## Footnote They are different from physiological pigments.
46
What is formalin pigment?
A brown-black granular precipitate composed of formaldehyde-heme complexes, usually extracellular ## Footnote It can resemble pathological pigments like haemosiderin or melanin.
47
How can formalin pigment be removed from tissue sections?
Using picric acid in alcohol (picric alcohol) ## Footnote Buffered formalin can prevent its formation.
48
Define minerals in a biological context.
Naturally occurring homogenous inorganic substances necessary for growth and development ## Footnote They have a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure.
49
List three minerals important in biology.
* Calcium * Copper * Iron
50
What is the physiological role of calcium?
Main inorganic component of bone and teeth; involved in blood clotting, muscle contraction, and nerve conduction ## Footnote It is essential for structural integrity.
51
What is dystrophic calcification?
Calcium deposited in damaged or necrotic tissue, such as tumors or atheromas ## Footnote It differs from metastatic calcification.
52
What is metastatic calcification?
Occurs in normal tissues due to hypercalcemia, such as in hyperparathyroidism ## Footnote This can lead to abnormal calcium deposits.
53
Name common sites for pathological calcium deposition.
* Microcalcifications in breast carcinoma * Calcified atheromatous plaques in arteries * Abnormal bone calcification in disorders like rickets or osteomalacia
54
What does the Von Kossa staining technique detect?
Phosphate in calcium salts via a silver nitrate reaction that turns black ## Footnote It is useful for identifying calcium deposits.
55
What is the function of copper in normal physiology?
A trace element involved in enzyme activity, iron metabolism, and connective tissue formation ## Footnote Found in small amounts in various tissues.
56
What is Wilson’s Disease?
A genetic disorder of copper metabolism leading to copper buildup in various organs ## Footnote It causes hepatic dysfunction and neurological symptoms.
57
Describe the Rhodanine Method.
The most common technique for staining copper, producing bright red to orange-red granules in hepatocytes ## Footnote It is used for detecting copper accumulation.
58
What is Shikata’s Orcein Stain used for?
Originally for staining elastic fibers and hepatitis B surface antigen; also stains copper-associated proteins in liver tissue ## Footnote It highlights copper metabolism abnormalities.

Cell Pathology (30 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions