Reversible Cellular Injury
-Decreased oxygen in air
Significant structural and functional
abnormalities have occurred but the injury
has typically not progressed to severe
membrane damage and nuclear
dissolution.
Decreased ATP
Decreased Na Pump
Increases intracellular Na & Ca
Increases extracellular K
Increase of intracellular H2O
Cellular Swelling
Ion pump failure leads to the
inability to maintain ionic and fluid
homeostasis
inevitable. It is time dependent loss of structure and
Signs & Symptoms
very slowly. Aging is gradual result of wear and tear.
-Dilated endoplasmic reticulum
-Detachment of ribosomes from
rough ER results in protein synthesis
Damage is reversed if oxygen is
restored
Results of Aging Cells
-Alter receptor sites or function
-Change nutrient pathways
-Increase susceptibility to injury
Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen which is typically caused by
ischemia. It is the leading cause of cell death.
Causative Factors
-ATP Depletion
-Oxygen & oxygen-derived free
radicals
-Defects in membrane permeability
-Intracellular calcium & loss of
calcium steady state
Cellular Injury
Occurs when the cell can no longer maintain
homeostasis or an adaptive steady state.
Cellular Changes
Cellular Aging
Normal physiological process that is universal and
function that occurs in very small increments and
Characteristics of Aging Cells
-Atrophy
-Decreased function
-Loss of cells
Mutating DNA within the mitochondria of the
cell decrease the production of ATP.
Mitochondrial or Death Receptor Pathways
activate caspases which causes breakdown of
the cytoskeleton resulting in apoptotic bodies.
Causes of Hypoxia
-Loss of hemoglobin or hemoglobin
function
-Cardiopulmonary diseases
-Poisoning of oxidative enzymes
-Decreased RBC’s
Irreversible Cellular Injury
Persistent or excessive injury causes cells to pass the
“point of no return” ultimately leading to death due
to the damaged membrane.
If Injurious Stimuli Continues
-Vacuolation in cytoplasm
-Swelling of lysosomes & mitochondria
-Activation of multiple enzyme systems
-Cytoskeleton & membrane damage
Apoptosis Cell Death
Is an active process of
cellular self-destruction.
Necrosis
Also a nuclear & cytoplasmic
shrinkage that fragments off Sum of cellular
apoptotic bodies to be changes after
cellular death and
engulfed by neighboring
cellular lysis
healthy cells.
Types of Necrosis
-Coagulative: Protein denaturation (Dry Gangrene)
-Liquefactive: Cells undergo hydrolases liquefying tissue
(Wet Gangrene)
-Caseous: Combination of coagulative &liquefaction
-Fat: Lipase breaks down triglycerides releasing fatty
acids causing saponification
-Gas Gangrene: Caused by species Clostridium producing
hydrolytic toxins that produce gas/bubbles
 References

Huether, S. & McCance, K. (2010). Pathophysiology: the biologic basis for disease in adults and children. In V. Brashers & N. Rote
(Eds.), Altered cellular and tissue biology (pp. 47-90). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier