NSG 533 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
Pyknosis
Clumping of nuclear material that results from a drop in pH
Karyorrhexis
Fragmentation of nuclear material that occurs after clumping (pyknosis)
Karyolysis
Dissolution of nuclear material
Kinicterus
Bilirubin-induced neurologic damage in infants
Definition and examples of atrophy
A decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Physiologic: atrophy of the thymus gland during
early childhood. Pathologic: skeletal muscle atrophy from immobilization, brain cell
atrophy with aging.
Definition and examples of hypertrophy
An increase in the size of cells that consequently increases the size of the affected
organ. Physiologic: hypertrophy in skeletal muscles with exercise, hypertrophy of the
uterus in pregnancy. Pathologic: cardiac hypertrophy from chronic hemodynamic
overload
Definition and examples of hyperplasia
An increase in the number of normal cells in an organ or tissue resulting from an
increased rate of cellular division. Physiologic: regeneration of the liver, estrogen-
stimulated breast enlargement during puberty. Pathologic: benign prostatic hyperplasia,
hyperplasia of the endometrium causing excessive menstruation
Definition and examples of dysplasia
Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells; often
precancerous. Not a true adaptive process, sometimes called atypical hyperplasia.
Examples: dysplastic changes in epithelia
Definition and examples of metaplasia
The reversible replacement of one mature cell type (epithelial or mesenchymal) by
another cell type; found in association with tissue damage, repair, and regeneration.
, Example: replacement of damaged esophageal squamous cell epithelium with glandular
epithelium in GERD.
Liquefactive necrosis
Commonly results from ischemic injury to neurons and glial cells in the brain. Brain cells
contain digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids. As cells are digested by their own
hydrolases, the tissue becomes soft, liquefies, and is walled off from healthy tissue in
cysts.
Coagulative necrosis (most common)
Occurs primarily in the kidneys, heart, and adrenal glands from hypoxia. Protein
denaturation causes albumin to change into a firm, opaque state. Area of coagulation is
called an infarct.
Caseous necrosis
Combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis commonly resulting from TB. Dead
cells disintegrate but the debris is not entirely digested by hydrolases, so the tissue is
soft and granular, resembling clumped cheese.
Fat necrosis
Occurs in the breast, pancreas, and other abdominal structures. Cellular dissolution
caused by lipases that break down triglycerides, releasing free fatty acids to combine
with calcium, magnesium, and sodium. This creates soaps (saponification) that appear
opaque and chalk white.
Dry gangrene
A necrotic area that is free from infection where the line of demarcation between live
and dead tissue is apparent. Tissue appears dry and shrunken.
Wet gangrene
A necrotic area in which an infection is present between the area of live and dead
tissue. Often malodorous and the line of demarcation between live and dead tissue is
unclear until the infection is arrested.
Gas gangrene
The term associated with wet gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens, an organism
that produces gas within the destroyed tissue. Results in crepitus upon palpation.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
Pyknosis
Clumping of nuclear material that results from a drop in pH
Karyorrhexis
Fragmentation of nuclear material that occurs after clumping (pyknosis)
Karyolysis
Dissolution of nuclear material
Kinicterus
Bilirubin-induced neurologic damage in infants
Definition and examples of atrophy
A decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Physiologic: atrophy of the thymus gland during
early childhood. Pathologic: skeletal muscle atrophy from immobilization, brain cell
atrophy with aging.
Definition and examples of hypertrophy
An increase in the size of cells that consequently increases the size of the affected
organ. Physiologic: hypertrophy in skeletal muscles with exercise, hypertrophy of the
uterus in pregnancy. Pathologic: cardiac hypertrophy from chronic hemodynamic
overload
Definition and examples of hyperplasia
An increase in the number of normal cells in an organ or tissue resulting from an
increased rate of cellular division. Physiologic: regeneration of the liver, estrogen-
stimulated breast enlargement during puberty. Pathologic: benign prostatic hyperplasia,
hyperplasia of the endometrium causing excessive menstruation
Definition and examples of dysplasia
Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells; often
precancerous. Not a true adaptive process, sometimes called atypical hyperplasia.
Examples: dysplastic changes in epithelia
Definition and examples of metaplasia
The reversible replacement of one mature cell type (epithelial or mesenchymal) by
another cell type; found in association with tissue damage, repair, and regeneration.
, Example: replacement of damaged esophageal squamous cell epithelium with glandular
epithelium in GERD.
Liquefactive necrosis
Commonly results from ischemic injury to neurons and glial cells in the brain. Brain cells
contain digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids. As cells are digested by their own
hydrolases, the tissue becomes soft, liquefies, and is walled off from healthy tissue in
cysts.
Coagulative necrosis (most common)
Occurs primarily in the kidneys, heart, and adrenal glands from hypoxia. Protein
denaturation causes albumin to change into a firm, opaque state. Area of coagulation is
called an infarct.
Caseous necrosis
Combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis commonly resulting from TB. Dead
cells disintegrate but the debris is not entirely digested by hydrolases, so the tissue is
soft and granular, resembling clumped cheese.
Fat necrosis
Occurs in the breast, pancreas, and other abdominal structures. Cellular dissolution
caused by lipases that break down triglycerides, releasing free fatty acids to combine
with calcium, magnesium, and sodium. This creates soaps (saponification) that appear
opaque and chalk white.
Dry gangrene
A necrotic area that is free from infection where the line of demarcation between live
and dead tissue is apparent. Tissue appears dry and shrunken.
Wet gangrene
A necrotic area in which an infection is present between the area of live and dead
tissue. Often malodorous and the line of demarcation between live and dead tissue is
unclear until the infection is arrested.
Gas gangrene
The term associated with wet gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens, an organism
that produces gas within the destroyed tissue. Results in crepitus upon palpation.
