cell adaption

Vocabulary flashcards covering the general principles of cellular adaptation, including atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia as discussed in the BRAN500 pathology lecture.

Cell Adaptation

The natural response of cells to internal and external environmental stimuli by undergoing changes in their metabolism or growth pattern.

Physiological Metabolic Adaptations

Fine regulation of metabolic function at a biochemical level, such as the mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue during fasting periods to supply energy.

Reversible Changes

Cellular changes that can return to normal if the stimulating cause is removed.

Irreversible Change

Changes that usually lead to permanent cellular damage or cell death.

Pathological Stimuli

Environmental changes that lie outside an acceptable range of normality.

Atrophy

A reduction in the size of functioning cells due to a decrease in functional demand, tropic stimuli, or nutrients.

Lipofuscin

A yellow-brown intracellular pigment, also known as brown atrophy, resulting from indigestible cell components like mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

Involution

A form of physiological reduction in organ size involving apoptosis of cells.

Apoptosis

A mechanism of cell death affecting single cells scattered in a population of healthy cells, representing a normal physiological process to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of functioning cells due to increased functional demand (workload), appearing in tissues where no mitotic division can take place.

Compensatory Hypertrophy

A type of growth adaptation where an organ enlarges to cope with an increased workload, such as the remaining kidney enlarging after a nephrectomy.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of functional cells occurring in tissues where cells are capable of mitotic division.

Hormonal Physiological Hyperplasia

An increase in cell number due to hormonal stimulation, such as breast and uterine enlargement during pregnancy due to increased estrogen.

Compensatory Hyperplasia

An increase in cell number to replace lost tissue, such as liver regeneration after a hepatectomy.

Pathologic Hyperplasia

Increase in cell number due to abnormal hormonal stimulation or chronic irritation, such as excessive estrogen causing endometrial hyperplasia.

Metaplasia

The change from one adult cell type to another adult cell type, usually in response to chronic irritation and inflammation to allow for substitution of more resilient cells.

Dysplasia

The disordered development or deranged cell growth of specific tissue resulting in cells that vary in size, shape, and appearance; often a precursor to cancer.