Disturbance in Cell Growth

Flashcards covering key concepts in cell growth disturbances, including adaptation, agenesis, aplasia, hypoplasia, ectopia, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, metaplasia, and dysplasia.

Cellular Adaptation

Adjustments cells make in response to changes in their environment to survive stress, which can be physiologic (normal needs) or pathologic (non-lethal injury).

Growth Disturbance (Fetal)

A disturbance of growth due to abnormal fetal development, including agenesis, aplasia, hypoplasia, and ectopia.

Growth Disturbance (Adult Organs)

Disturbances of growth that affect fully developed organs, including hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, metaplasia, and dysplasia.

Agenesis

The complete absence of an organ or failure of all or part of an organ to develop during embryonic growth.

Abrachia

Absence of the forelimbs.

Acrania

Absence of the cranium.

Adactylia

Absence of digits.

Amelia

Absence of one or more legs.

Anophthalmos (Anophthalmia)

Absence of both eyes.

Atresia

Absence of a normal opening.

Aplasia

The presence of a rudimentary structure with primordium of the organ, possibly represented by a fatty or fibrous mass, indicating incomplete development.

Hypoplasia

A failure of cells, tissues, or organs to attain their mature size, resulting in incomplete or under-development.

Ectopia

Displacement of organs to an abnormal site.

Dextrocardia

Congenital displacement of the heart to the right side of the thoracic cavity.

Ectopia Cordis Cervicalis

Displacement of the heart into the neck.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of parenchymal cells, resulting in enlargement of the organ or tissue without a change in cell number.

Physiologic Hypertrophy Example

Enlargement of skeletal muscle with exercise.

Adaptive Hypertrophy

Adaptive hypertrophy that occurs when organs work against increased back pressure or resistance.

Cardiac Muscle Hypertrophy Example

Hypertrophy of cardiac muscle occurring in cardiovascular diseases like systemic hypertension or aortic valve stenosis.

Compensatory Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy that occurs in an organ when the contralateral organ is removed, compensating for the function of the removed organ.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of parenchymal cells, resulting in enlargement of the organ or tissue.

Hormonal Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia occurring under hormonal stimulation.

Compensatory Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia occurring following the removal of part of an organ or a contralateral organ in a paired organ.

Atrophy

The decrease in the mass of a tissue or organ resulting from decreased size and/or number of cells after it has reached its normal size.

Physiologic Atrophy

Atrophy as a normal process of ageing in some tissues, which could be due to loss of endocrine stimulation or arteriosclerosis.

Pathologic Atrophy

The pathological causes of cellular or tissue atrophy include nutrient deprivation, decreased workload, denervation, and compression.

Metaplasia

A reversible change of one type of epithelial or mesenchymal adult cells to another type of adult epithelial or mesenchymal cells in response to abnormal stimuli.

Squamous Metaplasia

Metaplasia of epithelium typically as a reparative response to chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalance, vitamin A deficiency, or continuous irritation.

Columnar Metaplasia

Transformation to columnar epithelium, such as intestinal metaplasia in healed chronic gastric ulcer or columnar metaplasia in Barrett’s esophagus.

Osseous Metaplasia

Formation of bone in fibrous tissue, cartilage, and myxoid tissue.

Dysplasia

Abnormality in the formation of a tissue, implying an increase in the number of poorly differentiated or immature cells.

Atypical Hyperplasia

Disordered cellular development, often accompanied by metaplasia and hyperplasia.

Microscopic Features of Dysplastic Cells

Increased number of layers of epithelial cells, disorderly arrangement of cells, loss of basal polarity, and cellular and nuclear pleomorphism.