Altered Cells and Tissues: Lecture Review

This set covers cellular components, transport mechanisms, types of cellular adaptation (atrophy, hypertrophy, etc.), mechanisms of cell death, and clinical applications including cerebral atrophy, cardiac hypertrophy, acromegaly, and cervical alterations.

Plasma membrane

A cellular component consisting of phospholipids, integral proteins, channel proteins, and peripheral proteins that separates the cell from the extracellular fluid.

Phospholipids

Components of the plasma membrane with a polar hydrophilic head and fatty acid hydrophobic tails.

Mitochondria

Organelles responsible for cellular respiration and the production of $ATP$.

Passive transport

The movement of substances across the cell membrane without the use of energy, including diffusion and osmosis.

Facilitated transport

A mechanism also known as facilitated diffusion used to move substances across the cell membrane.

Active transport

The movement of substances across the cell membrane that requires energy in the form of $ATP$ and results in $ADP$.

Endocytosis

A process used to transport large substances into cells, categorized into pinocytosis and phagocytosis.

Pinocytosis

The ingestion of the contents of small liquid-containing vesicles into the cell.

Phagocytosis

The ingestion of large particles, such as cells, bacteria, and cell components, into the cell.

Exocytosis

The transport of cellular products packaged into vesicles out of the cell.

Aerobic respiration

Metabolic processes that transform fuel molecules into energy using oxygen to produce $ATP$.

Anaerobic respiration

Metabolic processes that produce $ATP$ without using oxygen.

Mitosis

Cellular division that occurs in somatic cells under genetic control.

Meiosis

Cellular division that occurs ONLY in the gametes.

Cellular differentiation

The process that directs the development of specific cell types.

Atrophy

A decrease in cell size.

Hypertrophy

An increase in cell size.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells.

Metaplasia

The replacement of adult cells as an adaptation to stressors.

Dysplasia

Deranged cell growth of a specific tissue involving changes in cell size, uniformity, shape arrangement, and structure.

Apoptosis

A mechanism of programmed cellular death.

Necrosis

A mechanism of cellular death often resulting from injury.

Hypoxia

A condition that deprives cells of oxygen, interrupting oxidative metabolism and the generation of $ATP$, which can lead to acute cellular swelling (edema).

Ischemia

A cause of hypoxia related to reduced blood supply to tissues.

Cerebral atrophy

Reduction in the size of the cells in the cerebrum of the brain and progressive reduction in the size of the neurons.

Focal

Clinical manifestation localized to a particular region.

Global

Clinical manifestation affecting the entire brain.

Cardiac Hypertrophy

A condition characterized by increased cardiac muscle mass due to excessive workload, increased demand, or genetic traits.

Primary Cardiac Hypertrophy

An inherited non–sex-linked genetic trait causing increased cardiac muscle mass.

Secondary Cardiac Hypertrophy

An increase in myocardial cell size due to an underlying condition that increases the left ventricular workload.

Syncope

A clinical manifestation of cardiac hypertrophy referring to fainting.

Acromegaly

A condition of cellular hyperplasia resulting from excessive hormonal stimulation of pituitary growth hormone and liver insulin-like growth factor 1 ($IGF-1$).

Epiphyseal plate

The site in bones after whose closure acromegaly occurs, leading to excessive growth of bones, cartilage, and soft tissues.

Prognathism

A prominent jaw, which is a clinical manifestation of acromegaly.

Cervical Metaplasia

The changing of cell types as a response to environmental stressors in the transformation zone of the cervix.

Cervical Dysplasia

Abnormal growth and disordered differentiation in dividing cells in the transformation zone of the cervix.

Pap test

A screening test involving microscopic examination of transformation zone cells for cervical metaplasia and dysplasia.

Colposcopy

A diagnostic biopsy of cervical tissue for microscopic examination.

Ablation

The removal of superficial cells, used as a treatment for cervical conditions through methods like cryosurgery or laser ablation.

Environmental Toxin Injury

Cardiovascular cell injury caused by exposure to airborne particulate matter, leading to oxidative damage and inflammation.