Alterations of Cell Function - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular adaptations, hypoxic injury, free radical injury, and cell death from the lecture notes.

Atrophy

A decrease or shrinkage in the size of cells.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of cells.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells.

Compensatory Hyperplasia

Donor liver immediately after donation shows regeneration (compensatory liver growth).

Hormonal Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia influenced by hormones (e.g., puberty).

Pathologic Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia associated with disease, e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia, endometriosis.

Metaplasia

The reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another.

Dysplasia

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

Hypoxic Injury

Tissue injury caused by insufficient oxygen; causes include hypoxemia, anemia, and ischemia.

Hypoxemia

Low oxygen level in the blood.

Anemia

Low hemoglobin leading to decreased oxygen delivery.

Ischemia

Reduced blood supply to tissue.

Na+/K+ Pump

Membrane transporter that maintains ion gradients; its failure leads to Na+ accumulation inside the cell.

ATP Production

Cellular energy production; decreased under hypoxia, leading to energy failure.

Anaerobic Metabolism

ATP production without oxygen; yields far less ATP and forms lactic acid.

Lactic Acid

Product of anaerobic metabolism; contributes to acidosis.

Free Radicals

Unstable molecules with unpaired electrons that can damage DNA, lipids, and proteins.

Reperfusion Injury

Tissue injury that occurs when oxygen is reintroduced after hypoxia, partly due to free radical formation.

Antioxidants

Molecules that neutralize free radicals (e.g., vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, omega-3).

Necrosis

Cell death due to injury; characterized by loss of membrane integrity, organelle swelling, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Gangrene

Extensive tissue death from severe hypoxic injury; occurs in dry or wet forms.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death; controlled self-destruction without triggering inflammation.

Exocytosis

Process by which secretory products are released into the extracellular space.

Electron Transport Chain

Mitochondrial protein complexes that transfer electrons to generate ATP via ATP synthase.

Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

Aerobic sequence of reactions generating NADH and FADH2; acetyl-CoA enters the cycle.