Mechanisms of Cellular Injury and Adaptation

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to cellular injury and adaptation, metabolism, and cancer biology.

Homeostasis

The principle of maintaining a stable internal environment in the body.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

Necrosis

The uncontrolled death of cells due to injury or disease.

Cellular Adaptation

The process by which cells adjust to changes in their environment.

Ischemic Injury

Cell injury caused by insufficient blood supply, leading to a lack of oxygen.

Oxidative Stress

Damage to cells caused by reactive oxygen species resulting from metabolic processes or environmental factors.

Glycolysis

The metabolic process that breaks down glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP.

Epigenetics

The study of how external factors can change gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes that regulate cell division and can prevent the formation of tumors by stopping uncontrolled cell growth.

Oncogenes

Mutant genes that lead to increased cell proliferation and cancer.

Chronic Inflammation

Ongoing, prolonged inflammation that can contribute to the development of certain diseases, including cancer.

Carcinogen

An agent that can cause cancer in living tissue.

Metaplasia

The process in which one differentiated cell type is replaced by another differentiated cell type.

Dysplasia

Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of cells.

Neoplasia

The process of new, uncontrolled growth of cells, commonly referred to as a tumor.

Autophagy

The biological process by which cells degrade and recycle their own components.