lecture 1

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture on pathopharmacology, focusing on human cells, cellular injury, and adaptation.

Eukaryotic cell

A type of cell that has a nucleus and organelles, and is found in multicellular organisms.

Mitochondria

Organelles known as the powerhouses of the cell that produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

Plasma membrane

A thin layer that surrounds the cell, controlling the movement of substances in and out.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled and orderly manner.

Necrosis

Uncontrolled cell death resulting from injury or disease, often leading to inflammation.

Hypertrophy

An increase in cell size, often as a response to increased workload.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells, often resulting in tissue enlargement.

Metaplasia

A transformation of one differentiated cell type to another, often in response to chronic irritation.

Dysplasia

Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of cells, often indicative of a precancerous state.

p53 protein

A protein that regulates the cell cycle and functions in tumor suppression by prompting apoptosis or halting division if DNA is damaged.

Cellular adaptation

The process by which cells adjust to changes in their environment or stressors to maintain homeostasis.

Gangrene

A type of tissue death due to loss of blood supply that can be classified as dry or wet.

Cellular injury

Damage to cells resulting from various causes such as hypoxia, chemicals, and radiation.

Ischemia

Insufficient blood supply to tissues, leading to cellular injury due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Highly reactive molecules containing oxygen that can damage cellular components such as DNA.

Endocytosis

A process by which cells engulf substances from their external environment, leading to internalization.

Exocytosis

A process by which cells expel materials through vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane.

Action potential

A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that occurs in response to stimulation in neurons and muscle cells.

Signal transduction

The process by which a cell responds to signals from the outside environment, often involving chemical messengers.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher concentration.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism despite changes in the external environment.