Practical 2: Introduction To Cellular Alterations In Disease Flashcards
What phenotypic alterations can take place in disease states?
Enlargement
Shrinkage
Development of accumulations
Proliferation
Death
Unusual structural features
Cellular alterations affect what cell types?
Epithelium
Functional cells
Stroma
Define hypertrophy
Increase in the size of cell because of extra functional demands e.g. skeletal muscle following exercise
Define atrophy
Decrease in cell size due to decreased demand on the cell or tissue
Define metaplasia
Alterations in cell morphology due to changes in cell differentiation. This results in a change to another cell type.
Usually associated with trauma or irritation
Define dysplasia
Abnormal growth of a tissue or organ, cells present may signify the stage preceding the development of cancer
Define inclusions
Inclusions are stored nutrients, secretory products, and pigment granules
e.g. bile, iron, copper, fat
What is the normal epithelium of the thyroid
(3)
Layer of simple cuboidal epithelium
C cells that make calcitonin
T3 and T4 produced
Write about Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
(6)
Complicated
Autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease
No follicles
Lymphocytes invaded and take over
Hypothyroidism
Gland hypertrophies and follicles atrophy
What phenotypic changes take place in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
(2)
The thyroid gland hypertrophies
Colloid follicles atrophy
What is a tell tale sign of hypertrophy?
Lymphocytes think their in a lymph node and form germinal centres
What is a symptom of hypertrophy?
Goitre -> due to infiltrating lymphocytes
Give an example of a disease process where atrophy occurs
Villous atrophy seen in Coeliac Disease
Write about coeliac disease
(5)
No villi -> only flat mucosa
Causes limited absorption of nutrients
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune and allergic reaction
Lots of inflammatory cells -> plasma cells and eosinophils
Plasma cells are responsible for the condition
Where is hyperplasia seen in coeliac disease?
Crypt hyperplasia in bottom of mucosa
Give an example of where metaplasia occurs
Cervix
Describe the metaplasia that occurs in the cervix
(6)
Change in epithelium from stratified squamous epithelium to glandular, columnar epithelium
This is caused by infection and trauma
Glandular epithelial change in order to protect area from infection or trauma
Could become cancerous
Apoptotic bodies will be seen
Takes a long time for this change
Give another location other than the cervix where metaplasia might occur
Barrett’s Oesophagus
What is the normal epithelium of the oesophagus?
Normal stratified squamous
What metaplasia occurs in Barrett’s oesophagus
Stratified squamous to stratified glandular
Write about Barrett’s oesophagus
(6)
Caused by excessive acid e.g. reflux
It is reversible
Often happens in pregnancy but goes away after
Chronic heartburn
Can become cancerous -> usually removed
Can lead to dysplasia
People can be screened for this using PAS (mucin)
Give a common site for hyperplasia
Colon- polyp
Write about a colon polyp
(6)
Polyps tend to grow up and out
Normally mucosa is flat in colon
Hyperplasia leads to dysplasia which can be precancerous
Distinct colour difference in diseased (more blue due to more nuclear material)
Dysplasia may often occur as well -> very
Multiple polyps near each other is dangerous
What stain is used for iron deposits?
Perl’s Prussian Blue
What stain is used for bile deposits
Fouchet’s stain
What might cause iron deposits
Haemochromatosis
What might cause copper deposits
Wilson’s disease
How does bile appear with Fourchet’s stain
Green (biliverdin)
