Pathophysiology SLCC
1. What is homeostasis?
- Answer: It refers to the body's ability to maintain a dynamic state of internal balance or equilibrium.
2. What is hyperplasia?
- Answer: It is characterized by an increased number of cells.
3. What is hypertrophy, and what typically causes it?
- Answer: Hypertrophy denotes an increase in the size of individual cells, which can be triggered by an
increased workload or pathological conditions.
4. What is atrophy, and what are its causes?
- Answer: Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size of cells, often caused by disuse, malnutrition, or
reduced blood flow.
5. What is metaplasia, and what causes it?
- Answer: Metaplasia involves the replacement of one cell type with another type that can better
withstand stress, usually due to chronic inflammation or irritation.
6. What is dysplasia, and what can precede it?
- Answer: Dysplasia indicates abnormal cell growth within a specific tissue and can be a precursor to
cancerous changes.
7. What effect does sodium buildup have in the cell?
- Answer: Sodium accumulation in the cell occurs as a result of the breakdown of the sodium-
potassium pump, leading to water influx and intracellular swelling.
8. What are the consequences of fatty changes within a cell?
, - Answer: The accumulation of lipids in cells can impair cell functions, often resulting in conditions like
"fatty liver."
9. What occurs with calcium buildup in a cell, and how does it happen?
- Answer: Calcium accumulates in the cell due to the breakdown of the Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ pump, leading to the
inappropriate activation of cellular enzymes.
10. What is apoptosis?
- Answer: Apoptosis is a form of controlled cell death (implosion) where the cell contents remain
contained, avoiding an inflammatory response.
11. What is necrosis?
- Answer: Necrosis refers to uncontrolled cell death (explosion) where cell contents are released into
the extracellular space, triggering an inflammatory response.
12. What are the main organs of the immune system?
- Answer: The immune system comprises several key organs:
- Bone marrow (producing RBCs, WBCs, and platelets)
- Thymus gland (responsible for T-cell production)
- Lymph nodes
- Tonsils
- Spleen
13. What are telomeres?
- Answer: Telomeres are the outermost protective caps at the ends of chromosome arms.
14. What are the three types of cells involved in inflammation, and what roles do they play?
- Answer:
1. Endothelial cells:
- They vasodilate or constrict blood vessels.
1. What is homeostasis?
- Answer: It refers to the body's ability to maintain a dynamic state of internal balance or equilibrium.
2. What is hyperplasia?
- Answer: It is characterized by an increased number of cells.
3. What is hypertrophy, and what typically causes it?
- Answer: Hypertrophy denotes an increase in the size of individual cells, which can be triggered by an
increased workload or pathological conditions.
4. What is atrophy, and what are its causes?
- Answer: Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size of cells, often caused by disuse, malnutrition, or
reduced blood flow.
5. What is metaplasia, and what causes it?
- Answer: Metaplasia involves the replacement of one cell type with another type that can better
withstand stress, usually due to chronic inflammation or irritation.
6. What is dysplasia, and what can precede it?
- Answer: Dysplasia indicates abnormal cell growth within a specific tissue and can be a precursor to
cancerous changes.
7. What effect does sodium buildup have in the cell?
- Answer: Sodium accumulation in the cell occurs as a result of the breakdown of the sodium-
potassium pump, leading to water influx and intracellular swelling.
8. What are the consequences of fatty changes within a cell?
, - Answer: The accumulation of lipids in cells can impair cell functions, often resulting in conditions like
"fatty liver."
9. What occurs with calcium buildup in a cell, and how does it happen?
- Answer: Calcium accumulates in the cell due to the breakdown of the Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ pump, leading to the
inappropriate activation of cellular enzymes.
10. What is apoptosis?
- Answer: Apoptosis is a form of controlled cell death (implosion) where the cell contents remain
contained, avoiding an inflammatory response.
11. What is necrosis?
- Answer: Necrosis refers to uncontrolled cell death (explosion) where cell contents are released into
the extracellular space, triggering an inflammatory response.
12. What are the main organs of the immune system?
- Answer: The immune system comprises several key organs:
- Bone marrow (producing RBCs, WBCs, and platelets)
- Thymus gland (responsible for T-cell production)
- Lymph nodes
- Tonsils
- Spleen
13. What are telomeres?
- Answer: Telomeres are the outermost protective caps at the ends of chromosome arms.
14. What are the three types of cells involved in inflammation, and what roles do they play?
- Answer:
1. Endothelial cells:
- They vasodilate or constrict blood vessels.
