Week 7 Definitions - Cell Adaptations

Question 1

Define reconstitution.

Answer 1

The replacement of a lost body part. It involves many different cell types, and is thus complex.

Question 2

Define hyperplasia

Answer 2

The increase in tissue/organ size due to an increase in cell number.

Question 3

Define hypertrophy.

Answer 3

An increase in tissue or organ size due to an increase in cell size (but NOT cell number).

Question 4

Define atrophy.

Answer 4

The shrinkage of a tissue or organ due to a decrease in the number and/or size of cells.

Question 5

Define metaplasia

Answer 5

The reversible change of one differentiated cell type to another.

Question 6

Define aplasia.

Answer 6

The complete failure of a tissue or organ to develop.

Question 7

Define involution.

Answer 7

Involution is programmed organ shrinkage - i.e. physiological atrophy.

Question 8

Define hypoplasia

Answer 8

The congenital underdevelopment or incomplete development of a tissue or organ.

Question 9

Define atresia

Answer 9

“no orifice” - congenital imperforation of an opening, e.g. anus

Question 10

Define dysplasia

Answer 10

Abnormal maturation of cells within a tissue.

Often pre-cancerous, although potentially reversible.

Question 11

Define regeneration

Answer 11

The replacement of cell loss by identical cells, in order to maintain tissue/organ size.