Adaptation and Injury of Cell

Extracellular stresses

homeostasis

Adaptation
• atrophy
• hypertrophy
X • hyperplasia
• metaplasia

Cell death
• necrosis
Cell injury
• apoptosis
 Atrophy
Definition:
decrease in the size of a tissue or an organ
resulting from decrease in the size or in number
of cells
Note: Hypoplasia and aplasia are not atrophy.
Hypoplasia---Incomplete or arrested development of an
organ.
Aplasia---Defective development resulting in the absence of
all or part of an organ or tissue.
Mechanisms of atrophy

– Decreased synthesis

– Increased catabolism
 Types:

 Physiologic atrophy

 Pathologic atrophy
Physiologic Atrophy
For example:
Early adult
Thymus
Late adult and old age
Uterus, breast
Testes
Gums
Cerebrum
Pathologic Atrophy
A. Atrophy of disuse
fractured limb → skeletal muscle atrophy, osteoporosis
B. Denervation Atrophy
damage of lower motor neuron → skeletal muscle atrophy

C. Atrophy due to loss of trophic hormones

pituitary disease → hormones↓ → atrophy of thyroid,
adrenals and gonads
D. Atrophy due to lack of nutrients
various causes→ cachexia

E. Pressure atrophy
hydronephrosis → atrophy of kidney
Morphology of atrophy
Atrophy of heart
Gross

 The size and weight of the heart decreased.

 brown appearance
 coronary arteries on the surface were tortuous