Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death

What is cellular adaptation?

Cellular adaptation is a protective mechanism that allows cells to adjust to changes in their environment to prevent cellular and tissue harm.

What are the five types of cellular adaptation responses?

Atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.

What is atrophy?

Atrophy is a decrease in cell size, often due to reduced workload or adverse environmental conditions.

What causes hypertrophy?

Hypertrophy is caused by an increased workload imposed on an organ or body part, often seen in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue.

What is hyperplasia?

Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue, occurring in tissues capable of mitotic division.

What is metaplasia?

Metaplasia is a reversible change where one adult cell type is replaced by another adult cell type, usually in response to chronic irritation.

What characterizes dysplasia?

Dysplasia is characterized by deranged and uncontrolled cell growth resulting in cells that vary in size, shape, and organization.

What are intracellular accumulations?

Intracellular accumulations are buildups of substances within cells that they cannot immediately use or eliminate.

What is dystrophic calcification?

Dystrophic calcification is the abnormal deposition of calcium salts in injured tissue, seen in areas of tissue damage.

What are the two types of cell death?

Necrosis and apoptosis.

List some causes of cell injury.

Causes include physical agents, radiation, chemical agents, biologic agents, and nutritional imbalances.

What is the significance of free radicals in cell injury?

Free radicals can cause cell damage by creating uncontrolled oxidative stress within the cell.

What role do biologic agents play in cell injury?

Biologic agents can replicate and continue to produce injurious effects on cells, including viruses and bacteria.

What nutritional imbalances can lead to cell injury?

Nutritional excesses or deficiencies, such as obesity or a lack of essential vitamins, can predispose cells to injury.

Give an example of a reversible cell injury.

Reversible cell injury may occur when cells adapt to minor stresses and can recover once the stressor is removed.

What are some examples of nutritional deficiencies that cause cell injury?

Iron-deficiency anemia, scurvy, beriberi, and pellagra are examples of injuries due to specific nutrient deficiencies.