Gangrene Types and Characteristics

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the appearance of wet gangrene?

Dry and shrunken

Mummified and brown

Normal and healthy-looking

Swollen and foul-smelling (correct)

What is the primary cause of dry gangrene?

Venous obstruction

Gas formation

Arterial obstruction (correct)

Bacterial infection

Gas gangrene is primarily associated with which type of injury?

Burns

Minor abrasions

Superficial skin wounds

Deep contaminated wounds (correct)

What is the role of hemoglobin in the pathogenesis of gangrene?

It produces hydrogen sulfide. Signup and view all the answers

Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an abnormal increase in cell size?

Hypertrophy Signup and view all the answers

Wet gangrene can lead to which systemic manifestation due to bacterial toxins?

Septicemia Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is commonly associated with wet gangrene?

Clostridium perfringens Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the cellular adaptations seen in pathological conditions?

Altered environmental stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is physiological hypertrophy?

Increase in muscle size due to exercise Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of compensatory hypertrophy?

Enlarged kidneys after one is removed Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes hyperplasia?

It involves an increase in the number of cells Signup and view all the answers

What type of hyperplasia occurs in response to excessive hemolysis?

Compensatory hyperplasia Signup and view all the answers

Which is a characteristic of pathological hypertrophy?

Can be adaptive or compensatory Signup and view all the answers

Which type of atrophy is characterized by a decrease in tissue size due to lack of nourishment?

Physiological atrophy Signup and view all the answers

What can cause hyperplasia of the endometrium?

Estrogen injection Signup and view all the answers

Which type of tissue response involves an increase in muscle contraction force due to obstruction?

Adaptive hypertrophy Signup and view all the answers

What type of atrophy results specifically from a lack of use or activity of a muscle?

Disuse atrophy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of atrophy is characterized by injury to a trophic nerve?

Neuropathic atrophy Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the incomplete growth of an organ?

Hypoplasia Signup and view all the answers

Which type of metaplasia involves the transformation of columnar or cuboidal epithelium into stratified squamous epithelium?

Epithelial metaplasia Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary cause of epithelial metaplasia in the respiratory tract?

Chronic irritation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a type of pathological atrophy caused by sustained pressure on tissue?

Pressure atrophy Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes agenesis from aplasia in organ development?

Agenesis refers to complete failure of development, while aplasia refers to a primordium being created. Signup and view all the answers

In what condition does connective tissue transform into bone, often occurring during healing?

Connective tissue metaplasia Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Gangrene

Necrotic tissue with putrefaction, dark and foul-smelling.
Caused by infection of necrotic tissue with putrefactive organisms.
Dark color due to iron sulfide formation from hemoglobin and hydrogen sulfide.

Types of Gangrene

Dry gangrene: Occurs on the skin surface, mainly affecting limbs, especially toes.
- Caused by arterial obstruction, common in individuals with impaired peripheral blood flow like diabetics.
- Characterized by dry, shrunken, and dark reddish-black tissue resembling mummified flesh.
Wet gangrene: Affects small intestine, appendix, lung, uterus, and limbs.
- Caused by both arterial and venous obstruction, allowing saprophytic microorganisms like Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus fusiformis to infect the tissue.
- Characterized by wet, swollen, foul-smelling, black or green tissue.
- Systemic manifestation: Toxic products released by bacteria cause septicemia and potentially death.
Gas gangrene: Affects deep, contaminated wounds with significant muscle damage.
- Caused by gas-forming bacteria.
- Characterized by swollen tissue with gas bubble formation.
- Rapidly spreads and leads to severe toxemia.
- Less common in civilian practice, but a significant complication of war wounds.

Cellular Adaptations In Disease

Cells adapt to altered environment through physiological and pathological stimuli.
Adaptations in growth include hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, and metaplasia.

Hypertrophy

Definition: Increase in the size and weight of an organ or tissue due to increased cell size.
Cause: Increased functional demand of tissue.
Types:
- Physiological hypertrophy: E.g., pregnant uterus, skeletal muscle hypertrophy due to exercise.
- Pathological hypertrophy:
  - Compensatory: Occurs in paired organs to compensate for loss of function.
  - Adaptive: Occurs in muscular hollow organs to compensate for chronic partial obstruction.

Hyperplasia

Definition: Increase in the size and weight of an organ or tissue due to increased cell number.
Types:
- Physiological hyperplasia: E.g., breast and genital organ growth during puberty.
- Pathological hyperplasia:
  - Compensatory: E.g., Hyperplasia of the bone marrow after hemorrhage or hemolysis.
  - Hormonal: E.g., Hyperplasia of the endometrium and mammary gland due to estrogen exposure.
  - Irritation: Mechanical, bacterial infection, or toxic.
  - Deficiencies: E.g., iodine deficiency causes thyroid hyperplasia.
  - Viral: E.g., Hyperplasia of epithelium due to poxvirus.

Atrophy

Definition: Decrease in the size of a tissue after full growth due to decreased cell number or size.
Types:
- Physiological atrophy: E.g., atrophy of the thymus.
- Pathological atrophy:
  - General atrophy:
    - Malnutrition and starvation atrophy.
    - Senile atrophy.
  - Localized atrophy:
    - Disuse atrophy: Reduced activity.
    - Pressure atrophy: Prolonged pressure.
    - Vascular atrophy: Reduced blood supply.
    - Neuropathic atrophy: Nerve injury.
    - Endocrine atrophy: Lack of trophic hormones.

Metaplasia

Definition: Transformation of one fully differentiated cell type into another within the same germ layer to adapt to environmental changes.
Types:
- Epithelial metaplasia: Columnar or cuboidal epithelium transforms into stratified squamous epithelium.
  - Occurs in bronchi, bronchioles, gallbladder, and urinary bladder.
  - Causes: Chronic irritation, vitamin A deficiency.
- Connective tissue metaplasia: Connective tissue transforms into bone.
  - Occurs during healing, such as in the abdominal wall.

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Description

Explore the various types of gangrene, including dry, wet, and gas gangrene. This quiz covers their causes, symptoms, and tissue characteristics. Ideal for anyone studying pathology or infectious diseases.