Pathophysiology – Cancer Lecture Review

Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload, nutrition, or stimulation?

Atrophy

What term describes an increase in cell size that results from increased workload or hormonal stimulation?

Hypertrophy

Which cellular adaptation refers to an increase in the number of cells due to increased rate of cellular division?

Hyperplasia

What is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, often less specialized, cell type called?

Metaplasia

Which form of abnormal cellular growth is characterized by disorganized cells that vary in size, shape, and appearance?

Dysplasia

Of the following—ischemia, hypoxia, necrosis, atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia—name one that is always pathologic rather than physiologic.

Necrosis (irreversible cell injury and death)

What key event marks the “point of no return” in irreversible cell injury?

Severe vacuolization of mitochondria and influx of calcium into the cell

Define necrosis.

A common type of cell death characterized by severe cell swelling, breakdown of organelles, and membrane rupture

What is apoptosis?

Programmed cell death