Session 1: Concepts of Health and Disease, and Cell Function

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering cytology, cell injury, and pathology concepts from the lecture notes.

Mitochondria

ATP biosynthesis (energy production) in the cell.

Ribosomes

Protein synthesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER)

Ribosome attachment site and protein synthesis.

Golgi apparatus

Glycosylation and processing/packaging of proteins.

Lysosomes

Protein degradation (digestion of cellular waste).

Nuclear membrane

Encloses the nucleus, separating it from the cytoplasm.

Nucleoplasm

Contains chromatin inside the nucleus.

Nucleolus

Site of rRNA synthesis.

Chromatin

Condenses to form chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis.

Homeostasis

The ability of cells and organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Plasma membrane blebbing

Morphologic sign of irreversible cell injury.

Cytoskeletal damage

Structural damage to the cell’s framework, indicating irreversible injury.

Mitochondrial swelling

Swelling of mitochondria, a sign of irreversible injury.

Pyknosis

Nuclear condensation during cell injury or death.

Karyorrhexis

Nuclear fragmentation during cell injury or death.

Karyolysis

Nuclear dissolution during cell injury or death.

Hypoxia

Partial lack of oxygen delivered to tissues.

Anoxia

Complete lack of oxygen delivery to tissues.

Suffocation

Cause of hypoxia due to impaired oxygen intake.

Near-drowning

Condition that can cause hypoxia due to impaired oxygenation.

Pneumonia

Lung infection that can reduce oxygen exchange, causing hypoxia.

Anemia

Low oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, leading to tissue hypoxia.

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack; reduced oxygen delivery to tissues.

Cyanide poisoning

Toxic effect impairing cellular oxygen utilization, contributing to hypoxia.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Toxic oxygen radicals (e.g., H2O2, OH) causing DNA, protein, and membrane damage; linked to oxidative stress.

Atrophy

Decrease in cell or tissue size or function.

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell or tissue size or function.

Hyperplasia

Increase in the number of cells.

Metaplasia

Reversible change where one adult cell type is replaced by another.

Dysplasia

Disordered arrangement of cells with nuclear atypia; may be reversible or progress to neoplasia.

Neoplasia

Abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of cells; often follows dysplasia.

Necrosis

Uncontrolled cell death with morphologic types including coagulative, liquefactive, caseous, fibrinoid, and fat necrosis.

Coagulative necrosis

Tissue preserves original form and consistency; most common type.

Liquefactive necrosis

Rapid tissue dissolution by hydrolytic enzymes, often forming fluid-filled cavities.

Caseous necrosis

Waxy, cheese-like appearance seen in tuberculosis granulomas.

Fibrinoid necrosis

Injured arterial walls; deposits appear as homogeneous red-stained material.

Fat necrosis

Digestion of fat tissue by pancreatic lipases, forming calcium soaps.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death requiring energy and activation of specific genes.

Role of apoptosis in fetal development

Essential for forming fingers and lumens in the GI tract; lack leads to syndactyly or atresia.

Pathologic apoptosis

Apoptosis occurring in disease, e.g., liver cells from hepatitis or skeletal muscle in muscular dystrophy.