Pathomorphology - postemortem changes, dystrophies, necrosis

Question 1

what is hypostasis or lividity

Answer 1

also referred to as Livor mortis, is the pooling of blood because of gravity in dependent body sites after the heart stops beating.

Question 2

Algor Mortis

Answer 2

refers to the cooling of the body after death

Question 3

conduction

Answer 3

the loss of heat through transfer to objects in contact with the body

Question 4

convection

Answer 4

is the movement of air over the body causing cooling; and radiation, which is the loss of heat from the body through infrared heat rays

Question 5

Autolysis

Answer 5

is a chemical process by the intracellular enzymes that causes the breakdown of tissue and organs.

Question 6

hemosiderin

Answer 6

is an iron-storage complex that is composed of partially digested ferritin and lysosomes. The breakdown of heme gives rise to biliverdin and iron.

The body then traps the released iron and stores it as hemosiderin in tissues. Hemosiderin is also generated from the abnormal metabolic pathway of ferritin.

Question 7

imbibition

Answer 7

is a special type of diffusion that takes place when liquid is absorbed by solids-colloids causing an increase in volume.

“Decomposition causes hemolyzed blood to leak out of the broken down blood vessels into the surrounding tissue (imbibition) usually within 12–24 hours after death.”

Question 8

Adipocere

Answer 8

is a grayish-white to brown, firm, wax-like material made up of the fatty acids oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. It is found primarily in the subcutaneous tissue and other fatty deposit areas.

Adipocere formation can take weeks to several months to develop and is resistant to chemical bacterial destruction. When a body is found immersed in water or in a damp, warm environment, adipocere formation may occur.

Question 9

Entomology

Answer 9

the scientific study of insects

Question 10

what term refers to the colonization by maggots of a live body.

Answer 10

Myiasis

Question 11

define instar

Answer 11

is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (ecdysis), until sexual maturity is reached.

identifying the presence of instars during necropsy can aid in determining time of death

Question 12

define degeneration

Answer 12

Defined as deterioration of live cells following injury, but with the potential to revert back to normal

Question 12

how is Deterioration of cells is evaluated

Answer 12

in terms of morphological changes that occur inside or outside the cells

Question 13

Cell injuries are classified according to (2)

Answer 13

1. Magnitude/Severity
2. Nature of injury

Question 14

how does radiant energy cause injury to cells?

Answer 14

Radiant energy e.g. X-rays, UV light

induce formation of free radicals,
damage the genetic material causing genetic defects and neoplasia

Question 15

Morphological changes that occur inside the cells following injury involve

Answer 15

accumulation of metabolites in the endoplasmic reticulum

One of these metabolites is water following injury of cells by hypoxia
Other metabolites known to accumulate inside cells following injury are:
– Protein
– Carbohydrates
– Lipids

Question 16

Parenchymatous protein degenerations occur where vs mesenchymal

Answer 16

Parenchymatous protein degenerations are intracellular
&
Mesenchymal are extracellular

(mesenchymal = refers to cells that develop into connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic tissue)

Question 17

Parenchymatous protein degenerations can be (4)

Answer 17

Granular
Hyalin-drop
Vacuolar
Keratinous

Parenchymatous degenerations are intracellular and granular dystrophy is most frequent.

Question 18

Mesenchymal protein degenerations can be (4)

Answer 18

Mucoid swelling
Fibrinoid changes
(= Fibrinoid necrosis is the death of cells in small blood vessels. )

Hyalinosis (= hyaline degeneration)
Amyloidosis (abnormal protein called amyloid, deposition)

mesenchcymal degenerations are extracellular

Question 19

another term for Mixed protein degenerations

Answer 19

mixed dysproteinosis

Question 20

name 3 types of hemoglobinogenic protein degenerations

Answer 20

Hemoglobinogenic pigments: hemosiderin, hematoidin, bilirubin

Question 21

name a type of Proteinogenic protein degenerations

Answer 21

Proteinogenic pigment: melanin

Question 22

name 2 types of lipid protein degenerations

Answer 22

Lipid pigments: lipofuscin, lipocromes

Question 23

what is Uric acid diathesis

Answer 23

diathesis = a constitutional predisposition toward a particular state or condition

so an increased level of uric acid leads to (urate) gout
(diathesis urica = uric acid diathesis)
can also be called hyperuricemia

Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joints.

Question 24

lipidosis

Answer 24

or Fatty degeneration abnormal deposition of lipids in organs or tissues of the body, often resulting from genetic disorders of lipid metabolism Parenchymal fatty degenerations Mesenchymal fatty degenerations

Question 25

name 3 types of Mineral degenerations

Answer 25

Metastatic calcification (= is deposition of calcium salts in otherwise normal tissue) Dystrophic calcification (= is deposition of calcium salt in degenerated tissues with the absence of a systemic mineral imbalance) Concrements or stones (= excess mineral forming crystals/stone)

Question 26

macroscopic changes from cellular degeneration? (2)

Answer 26

Decolorization of tissues or organs. Changes of the consistency; tissue is softer, fragile and friable (= easily crumbled)

Question 27

Chromatolysis

Answer 27

chromatolysis is the dissolution of the Nissl bodies in the cell body of a neuron.

Question 28

Pyknosis (or karyopyknosis)

Answer 28

the reduction in size and increase in staining of a cell or its nucleus the irreversible condensation of chromatin in the nucleus of a cell undergoing necrosis or apoptosis. It is followed by karyorrhexis, or fragmentation of the nucleus. Pyknosis is also observed in the maturation of erythrocytes and the neutrophil.

Question 29

karyorrhexis

Answer 29

a degenerative cellular process involving fragmentation of the nucleus and the breakup of the chromatin into unstructured granules

Question 30

Acantholysis

Answer 30

Acantholysis means loss of coherence between epidermal cells due to the breakdown of intercellular bridges. It is an important pathogenetic mechanism underlying various bullous disorders, particularly the pemphigus group, as well as many non-blistering disorders.

Question 31

Steatosis

Answer 31

steatosis is abnormal retention of lipids within a cell or organ word commonly used for fatty liver disease

Question 32

According to the triggering factors the following etiological forms of necrosis are specified: (5)

Answer 32

traumatic necrosis toxic necrosis angiogenic or circulatory necrosis allergic necrosis trophoneurotic necrosis (= due to defective nerve action in a part of an organ which results in failure of nutrition)

Question 33

karyolysis

Answer 33

is the complete dissolution of the chromatin of a dying cell due to the enzymatic degradation by endonucleases

Question 34

necrotic cytoplasm changes: (3)

Answer 34

coagulation plasmorrhexis (= rupture of a cell with loss of its contents) plasmolysis (involves contraction or shrinkage)

Question 35

necrosis sicca s. coagulativa

Answer 35

Dry or coagulative necrosis

Question 36

necrosis humida s. colliquativa

Answer 36

Wet or liquefactive necrosis

Question 37

describe Coagulative necrosis (2)

Answer 37

Proteins denature and aggregate rather than degrade Dry gangrene

Question 38

describe Liquefactive necrosis (2)

Answer 38

Enzymatic digestion of cellular components Wet gangrene

Question 39

describe Fatty necrosis

Answer 39

End result of pancreatic lipases digesting fat cells resulting in calcium soaps

Question 40

describe Caseous necrosis

Answer 40

End result of tuberculous infections, granuloma

Question 41

describe Fibrinoid necrosis

Answer 41

Ag-Ab complexes and fibrin accumulate in arteries or other vessels

Question 42

what is Zenker´s degeneration

Answer 42

necrosis of skeletal muscles

Question 43

cyto steatonecrosis

Answer 43

Fat necrosis e.g. pancreatic cyto steatonecrosis or bacterial lipolytic enzymes Macroscopically: White spots in fat tissue. Calcification of necrotosed tissue and inflammation.

Question 44

Cicatrization

Answer 44

is the contraction of fibrous tissue formed at a wound site by fibroblasts, reducing the size of the wound while distorting tissue. Cicatrization may refer to: The process of a wound healing to produce scar tissue.

Question 45

Phlegmon

Answer 45

is a localized area of acute inflammation of the soft tissues Most commonly, it is used in contrast to a "walled-off" pus-filled collection (abscess), although a phlegmon may progress to an abscess if untreated.

Question 46

Degeneration or dystrophy

Answer 46

denotes any disorder due to defective or faulty nutrition or metabolism of an organism, organ or tissue.

Question 47

describe (dystrophia granularis)

Answer 47

In granular degeneration granules or grains accumulate in the cytoplasm of the cell, which makes the cytoplasm cloudy and the nucleus not so well visible. The cell expands in the process. The dystrophy-affected organs enlarge, swell, become brittle and of lighter colour than normal, often with irregular patches of colouring. Granular degeneration is the least severe form of degenerations.

Question 48

describe (dystrophia hyalinoguttatica)

Answer 48

Hyalin-drop degeneration mainly affects kidneys (renal convoluted tubule epithelial cells); and liver more rarely. semi-transparent hyaline homogenous protein drops of various sizes appear in the cytoplasm of cells and can fill the entire cytoplasm by joining (destruction of the ultrastructure of the cell). This form of degeneration lacks characteristic external features and therefore a diagnosis is not possible without microscopic studies.

Question 49

describe (dystrophia hydropica, dystrophia vacuolaris)

Answer 49

Hydropic or vacuolar degeneration fluid-filled vacuoles form in the cytoplasm (or nucleus, but that is more rare) of a cell. Hydropic dystrophy is caused by protein-water-electrolytes imbalance. progressed, the vacuoles grow and sometimes merge, filling the whole cell with liquid. the organs and tissues show little changes externally, except for their swelling. This type of degeneration can be identified only by histological examination.

Question 50

describe (dystrophia keratinosa)

Answer 50

In keratinous degeneration the keratinizing epithelium develops either excessive keratin of normal consistency (hyperkeratosis) or keratin appears in regions where it normally does not exist (on mucosa – leucokeratosis, leucoplakia). The developing keratin may be of altered consistency (parakeratosis).

Question 51

ichthyosis

Answer 51

is a group of skin disorders that lead to dry, itchy skin that appears scaly, rough, and red. The skin looks as if covered by fish scales with thin fur or hairs.

Question 52

Extracellular dysproteinemias are

Answer 52

protein metabolism disturbances in fascia (stroma of organs and walls of blood vessels). Extracellular dysproteinemias include mucoid degeneration, fibroid degeneration, hyalin degeneration and amyloidosis.

Question 53

what exactly is hyalin

Answer 53

Hyalin is a large fibrous protein, made up of plasma cells mostly. The protein has strong adhesive properties

Question 54

Fibrinoid degeneration causes

Answer 54

the connective tissue of organs and vessels disintegrate; the collagen fibres swell and break down and the fibres and the ground substance of connective tissue soak in cells of blood plasma, fibrin mainly, and the result is a complicated compound – fibrinoid.

Question 55

sclerosis

Answer 55

a pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue or by increase in interstitial tissue.

Question 56

General hyalinosis of blood vessels and connective tissue is

Answer 56

noted with arteriosclerosis The result is that the walls of the blood vessels are saturated with plasma proteins, precipitation of plasma proteins and hyalin. Due to hyaline production, the walls of the vessels harden and lose their elasticity, their lumen narrows or closes.

Question 57

another term for sclerosis

Answer 57

Focal hyalinosis appears with chronic focal inflammations, where the connective tissue may become hyalinized.

Question 58

Amyloidosis is

Answer 58

extracellular protein degeneration, characterised by amyloid deposit in tissues between cells.

Question 59

One of the most distinctive features of amyloid is

Answer 59

metachromasia with anil dye, i.e. amyloid will take a colour different from that of the dye solution. metachromatic: having the capacity to stain different elements of a cell or tissue in different colors or shades.

Question 60

another term for Chromoprotein metabolism disturbances

Answer 60

pathologic endogenous pigmentations A chromoprotein is a conjugated protein that contains a pigmented prosthetic group (or cofactor). A common example is haemoglobin, which contains a heme cofactor

Question 61

Hemoglobinogenics pigments are the result of either physiological or pathological

Answer 61

erythrocyte hemolysis.

Question 62

The result of physiological degradation of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in reticuloendothelial or macrophagic cells are the pigments (3)

Answer 62

hemosiderin, ferritin & bilirubin.

Question 63

If the hemolytic process is pathological, aside from the usual pigments produced, what 3 compounds may be produced as well?

Answer 63

hematoidin, hematins, porphyrins.

Question 64

histiocyte

Answer 64

is a tissue macrophage or dendritic cell, that is found in many parts of the body especially in the bone marrow, the blood stream, the skin, the liver, the lungs, the lymph glands and the spleen. is part of the mononuclear phagocyte system (also known as the reticuloendothelial system or lymphoreticular system). In histiocytosis, the histiocytes move into tissues where they are not normally found and cause damage to those tissues.

Question 65

Bilirubin

Answer 65

is the most important bile pigment, a yellow-red haemoglobin-breakdown product derived from catabolised RBCs in the reticuloendothelial cells Bilirubin deposits in the liver, is present in bile

Question 66

There are three main pathological forms of jaundice:

Answer 66

1) parenchymal 2) hemolytic 3) obstructive yellow due to higher levels of bilirubin

Question 67

Parenchymal (hepatocellular) jaundice occurs with

Answer 67

liver diseases, when the damaged hepatocytes have reduced ability to secrete bilirubin to hepato-biliary system (for example diseases like infectious hepatitis, toxic degeneration of liver, sepsis, leptospirosis etc.).

Question 68

Hemolytic (pre-hepatic) jaundice occurs with

Answer 68

intensive hemolysis (great quantities of bilirubin are produced). For example with some blood diseases, some infectious diseases and blood parasitic diseases and sepsis.

Question 69

Obstructive (post-hepatic) jaundice is caused by

Answer 69

an interruption to the drainage of bile (constricted or obstructed bile duct lumen, which may be the result of bile duct inflammation, gallstones, parasites; also external causes like tumors, scar tissue and some other factors). obstructive jaundice liver has yellow discoloration If bile is obstructed for a longer period, it causes necrotic changes in the liver and necrotic tissue will be replaced by connective tissue, which leads to biliary cirrhosis.

Question 70

Name 3 Proteinogenic pigments

Answer 70

Melanin, adrenochrome and pigment of enterochromafin cells

Question 71

melanosis

Answer 71

or melanism Excessive production of melanin and its depositing in skin and internal organs

Question 72

leucoderma

Answer 72

An acquired condition with localized loss of pigmentation of the skin after inflammations and other damage

Question 73

Lipofuscin

Answer 73

is a lipid protein and lipid pigement, and appears as little yellowish brown granules in the cells Due to pigment build-up the organ becomes brownish.

Question 74

Lipochromes

Answer 74

are pigments that give the yellow colouring to fatty tissue, adrenal cortex, egg yolk, blood plasma etc. Lipochromes are pigments that have dissolved in lipids

Question 75

Lipochromes

Answer 75

are pigments that give the yellow colouring to fatty tissue, adrenal cortex, egg yolk, blood plasma etc. Lipochromes are pigments that have dissolved in lipids most widespread member of the group is carotene, therefore lipochromes are also called carotenoids. Carotenoids are of herbal origin. They enter animal organism via feed. Carotenoids are also a source of vitamin A.

Question 76

Glycoproteins are

Answer 76

complex protein compounds with polysaccharides. The group includes mucous substances (mucins) and mucinoid substances (mucoids).

Question 77

The metabolic disturbance of glycoproteins is

Answer 77

mucoid degeneration.

Question 78

Mucoid degeneration

Answer 78

is the degeneration of connective tissue into a gelatinous or mucoid substance. Mucoid degeneration can be intracellular (parenchymal) and extracellular (mesenchymal).

Question 79

catarrh

Answer 79

is a build-up of mucus in an airway or cavity of the body.

Question 80

Colloid dystrophy is a special form of

Answer 80

mucoid degeneration. In that case colloid pseudo-mucin is produced and deposited in the glandular organs (thyroid gland, adrenals, pituitary gland etc.). This form of degeneration occurs mostly in thyroid glands in the form of colloid struma (goiter) (struma colloidea) and is caused by iodine deficiency.

Question 81

Disturbances in nucleoprotein change are

Answer 81

uric acid diathesis and uric acid infarct.

Question 82

uric acid diathesis

Answer 82

excessive amounts of uric acid and its salts are produced, which deposit in blood and cause hyperuricemia Uric acid and its salts deposit as uric acid crystals and amorphous sodium salt to tissues and organs, causing degenerative and inflammatory changes and necrosis. joint form is gout

Question 83

There are two variations of uric acid diathesis:

Answer 83

1) visceral and 2) joint form.

Question 84

Uric acid infarct mainly affects

Answer 84

newborns due to their more intensive metabolism during the first days. Uric acid and the salts deposit in convoluted renal tubules. It is a physiological process that will disappear after a while.

Question 85

The fat that deposits in connective tissues under the skin, around kidneys etc. is called

Answer 85

neutral fat.