Disturbances in Cell Growth, Developmental and Retrogressive Tissue Changes

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular adaptations, reversible and irreversible cell injury, types of necrosis, nuclear alterations, reactive hyperplasias, and developmental growth disorders from General Pathology.

Cellular Adaptation

The reaction and adjustment of cells to abnormal conditions or stress by altering their growth pattern, remaining viable until the stimulus is removed.

Atrophy

A decrease in the size and function of a cell, tissue, or organ, which is reversible once the causal stimulus is removed.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of individual cells resulting in overall enlargement of the organ, driven by increased functional demand or hormonal stimulation.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the total number of cells within a tissue or organ leading to enlargement, which ceases when the stimulating factor is removed.

Metaplasia

The adaptive substitution or replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type better able to withstand an abnormal stimulus or chronic irritation.

Dysplasia

The creation of abnormal cells from normal cells characterized by alterations in size, shape, nuclear structure, and unorganized arrangement within tissue.

Hydropic Degeneration

A reversible form of cell swelling caused by an accumulation of excess fluid within the cell cytoplasm following mild injury.

Fatty Degeneration (Steatosis)

A reversible cell injury in fat-transporting tissues characterized by the abnormal intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets.

Degeneration

A retrogressive, non-lethal change in cells and tissues marked by abnormal structural alterations and decreased functional capability.

Necrosis

Irreversible, lethal cell death resulting from severe acute or chronic injury, typically eliciting a secondary inflammatory response in surrounding tissues.

Apoptosis

A normal, genetically programmed process of cell self-destruction that eliminates unwanted, aging, or mutated cells without inducing inflammation.

Coagulation Necrosis

A pattern of cell death usually triggered by hypoxia or ischemia in which structural cellular proteins precipitate, turning the tissue firm and opaque.

Liquefactive Necrosis

A pattern of necrosis typical of bacterial infections or tissues with high water content, where polymorphonuclear leukocytes release enzymes that digest adjacent dead tissue into liquid pus.

Caseous Necrosis

A distinct form of cell necrosis characteristic of tuberculosis, in which dead tissue crumbles into a crumbly, cheesy material within granulomatous inflammation.

Gummatous Necrosis

A form of necrosis characteristic of tertiary syphilis where coagulated tissue is partially digested by bacterial enzymes to form a rubbery, gummy mass.

Fat Necrosis

Irreversible cell death caused by the action of digestive pancreatic enzymes on adipose tissue, resulting in opaque, chalky nodules.

Gangrenous Necrosis

Tissue death secondary to severe ischemic loss of blood supply, commonly affecting distal limbs and often complicated by saprophytic bacterial infection.

Pyknosis

A nuclear alteration in necrotic cells marked by nuclear shrinkage and dark condensation of chromatin.

Karyorrhexis

A nuclear alteration in necrotic cells marked by the fragmentation and breakdown of the cell nucleus.

Karyolysis

A nuclear alteration in necrotic cells marked by the dissolution or fading of the cell nucleus.

Epulis Fissuratum

Denture-induced inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia formed of dense fibrous connective tissue resulting from chronic irritation by an ill-fitting denture flange.

Irritation Fibroma

A localized reactive connective tissue hyperplasia consisting of dense connective tissue caused by repetitive trauma, frequently seen on the buccal mucosa, tongue, lips, or palate.

Pyogenic Granuloma

A reactive connective tissue hyperplasia featuring excessive proliferation of highly vascularized connective tissue in response to minor trauma or hormonal shifts, common during pregnancy.

Chronic Hyperplastic Pulpitis

Also called a pulp polyp, an overgrowth of chronically inflamed, highly vascular dental pulp tissue presenting as an asymptomatic pink mass within an open carious crown.

Barrett's Esophagus

A metaplastic alteration of the lower esophagus where normal stratified squamous epithelium converts to columnar intestinal-type epithelium due to severe chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Agenesis

A developmental anomaly characterized by the total failure of an organ or anatomical structure to form.

Aplasia

A developmental defect in which an organ or tissue fails to undergo normal growth, yielding only nonfunctional rudimentary remnants.

Hypoplasia

Underdevelopment or incomplete development of an organ or tissue, resulting in a subnormal cell count and reduced overall size.

Congenital Defect

An abnormality in organ or tissue structure that is present at birth as a result of disrupted embryonic development.

Tardive Defect

A developmental disorder or tissue abnormality that remains hidden at birth and manifests later during adult life.

Hamartoma

A benign, non-neoplastic malformation made up of an overgrowth of disorganized mature cells and tissues native to the specific organ site.

Hemangioma

A developmental vascular abnormality consisting of a benign overgrowth of unencapsulated, dilated capillary blood vessels within the skin or connective tissue.

Choristoma

A developmental anomaly characterized by a localized mass of histologically normal tissue growing in an abnormal anatomical position.

Teratoma

A developmental tumor originating from entrapped embryonic cells containing differentiated structures from multiple germ layers, including hair, teeth, bone, and nerve tissue.