Cell Degeneration and Death Flashcards
Lipid Inclusion
Often located as droplets in various cell types; especially as fat changes in hepatocytes
Can be caused from alcohol in liver
Lond term consequence is hepatic cirrhosis
Briefly what is cirrhosis
Formation of scar tissue in the liver instead of normal hepatocytes, preventing the liver from working properly
Occurs after prolonged liver damage
What do liver function tests test
Levels of:
Alanine amino transaminase
Gamma glytamyl transpeptidase (enzymes that would leak during necrosis)
Bilirubin (Liver does not work well enough to remove bilirubin)
Albumin
Alkaline phosphatase
Coagulation function (liver damage can lead to haemmoraging and bruising)
How does paracetemol affect LFTs
ALT and bilirubin elevated
Prothrombin time ratio elevated (clotting function affected)
How do we decide when to treat paracetemol overdose
Treatment Line
How is paracetemol overdose treated and why
Treatment with N acetylcysteine
Liver damage only takes place when glutathione becomes depleted and cysteine availability is the limiting factor
What does albumin help with
Maintaining osmotic pressure of blood to combat the pumping of liquid done by blood vessels; dragging water back from interstitial tissue into tissue
Why does liver failure cause oedema
In liver failure, albumin production is reduced/depleted so this leads to water excessively leaking into interstitial tissue
How to differentiate lipid inclusions in liver vs cell death
Cell death has holes in hepatocytes that are much larger
Where does hepatic necrosis from paracetemol take place and why
Necrosis happens in the centriacinar hepatocytes as these are rich in esterases which produce a toxic intermediary from paracetemol; perportal hepatocytes produce lower levels of esterases so survive
Compound Fractures
Fracture where is open and bone is open to environment
How to identify kidney ischaemia
Proximal convoluted tubule cells look more clear inside and have lost their pinkishness as they retain water and have died
Which part of the nephron is most likely to show structural damage and why does structural damage occur in general
Tubular systems (especially proximal) as a result of poor blood flow and possibly hypoxia to kidney
Why does kidney function recover after renal failure
Cells in the kidney can proliferate and regenerate so renal function recovers when the tubular epithelial cells do
Clinical features of Alzheimer’s
Impaired recent memory
Impaired ability to name objects
Impaired ability to draw simple shapes
