Altered Cellular and Tissue Biology Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to altered cellular and tissue biology.

Atrophy

Decrease in cell size, leading to decreased organ size if enough cells shrink.

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size, leading to increased organ size.

Hyperplasia

Increase in the number of cells due to an increased rate of cellular division.

Dysplasia

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

Metaplasia

Reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another.

Apoptosis

Programmed cellular death that is an active process.

Necrosis

Rapid loss of plasma membrane structure, organelle swelling, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Hypoxic Injury

Cellular injury caused by a lack of sufficient oxygen.

Ischemia

Reduced supply of blood to tissues or organs.

Anoxia

Total lack of oxygen.

Free Radicals

Electrically uncharged atom or group of atoms with an unpaired electron that can damage cells.

Oxidative Stress

Condition caused by an imbalance between the production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products.

Xenobiotics

Toxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic chemicals or substances.

Contusion

Bruise resulting from a blunt force injury.

Laceration

Tear or rip in the skin or underlying tissues due to blunt force.

Asphyxial Injuries

Cellular injuries caused by a failure of cells to receive or use oxygen.

Liquefactive Necrosis

Necrosis where cells are digested by their own hydrolases, resulting in soft and liquefied tissue.

Coagulative Necrosis

A type of necrosis characterized by protein denaturation.

Caseous Necrosis

A combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis, often resulting from pulmonary tuberculosis infection.

Fatty Necrosis

Cellular death in breast, pancreas, and other abdominal organs due to action of lipases.

Gangrenous Necrosis

Death of tissue from severe hypoxic injury.

Dry Gangrene

Form of gangrenous necrosis where the skin becomes dry and shriveled, brown or black.

Wet Gangrene

Form of gangrenous necrosis where the area becomes cold, swollen, and black.

Autophagy

Self-destructive process where cytoplasmic contents are delivered to lysosomes for degradation.

Frailty

Weakness, decreased stamina, and functional decline in older adults.

Pallor Mortis

Postmortem paleness.

Algor Mortis

Postmortem reduction of body temperature.

Rigor Mortis

Postmortem rigidity of muscles.

Livor Mortis

Postmortem pooling of blood.

Putrefaction

Postmortem decomposition of the body.