Pathology Lab 7: Cellular Accumulation

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Questions and Answers

What is the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within the cytoplasm of cells known as?

Xanthoma

Hypercholesterolemia

Steatosis (correct)

Atherosclerosis

Which of the following is NOT a cause of fatty change?

Starvation

Alcohol consumption

Diabetes mellitus

Regular exercise (correct)

What is the term for the buildup of cholesterol within cells?

Hyperlipidemia

Cholesterol accumulation (correct)

Atherosclerosis

Steatosis

What is a genetic disorder that can contribute to high cholesterol levels?

Familial hypercholesterolemia Signup and view all the answers

High intake of which type of fats can contribute to cholesterol deposition in tissues?

Saturated fats Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of exogenous pigments in the body?

Introduced from outside the body Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of jaundice mentioned in the text?

Hemolytic anemia, biliary obstruction, and hepatocellular disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the disease involving accumulation of excess hemosiderin?

Hemosiderosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the 'wear and tear' pigment that accumulates in cells during aging?

Lipofuscin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of melanin in the body?

Skin pigmentation Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of hemochromatosis mentioned in the text?

Genetic disorder of iron absorption Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the accumulation of a brown pigment in cardiac muscle cells?

Oxidative stress and cellular senescence Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of black pigmentation of the gums?

Ingestion of contaminated water Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the deposition of black carbon particles in macrophages?

Anthracosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition characterized by the crystallization of uric acid in joints and tissues?

Gout Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of oxidative stress and cellular senescence in long-lived cells?

Peroxidation of lipid due to free radicals Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the body producing too much uric acid or excreting too little?

Uric acid accumulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the deposition of a homogenous, glassy, pink material within cells or in the extracellular space?

Hyaline accumulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of amyloid accumulation under polarized light?

Shows an apple-green birefringence Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the accumulation of mucin in the dermis?

Mucinosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical cause of Myxomatous Degeneration?

Age-related changes in connective tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrillar proteins?

Amyloid protein accumulation Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of Amyloidosis?

Chronic inflammatory diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of MSU crystals?

Needle-shaped and birefringent Signup and view all the answers

What is a dietary factor that contributes to the accumulation of MSU crystals?

Consumption of foods high in purines Signup and view all the answers

What can impair the elimination of uric acid from the body?

Reduced kidney function Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of calcium deposition in tissues?

Appear as pale, whitish areas in the tissue section Signup and view all the answers

What can cause dystrophic calcification?

Necrosis of tissues Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fatty Change

Fatty change refers to an abnormal buildup of triglycerides within the cytoplasm of cells.
Causes of fatty change include:
- Alcohol abuse: This can disrupt lipid metabolism, leading to triglyceride accumulation.
- Diabetes mellitus: Insulin resistance and hyperglycemia lead to increased lipolysis and triglyceride production.
- Malnutrition: Protein deficiency can impair lipoprotein synthesis, leading to triglyceride accumulation.
- Obesity: Increased free fatty acids in circulation can overwhelm the ability of cells to process them.
- Hypoxia: Reduced oxygen supply can disrupt energy metabolism, leading to lipid accumulation.

Cholesterol Accumulation

Cholesterol accumulation within cells is termed cholesterol deposition.
Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Genetic disorders that contribute to high cholesterol levels include:
- Familial hypercholesterolemia: Due to genetic defects in LDL receptors or their function.
High intake of saturated fats can contribute to cholesterol deposition in tissues.

Pigments

Exogenous pigments are pigments that originate from outside the body and are taken in through various means.
The primary sources of exogenous pigments are:
- Carbon particles: These are black pigments found in lung tissue, particularly those exposed to heavy pollution.
Jaundice is a condition characterized by yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to accumulation of bilirubin.
Hemosiderin is an iron storage pigment in macrophages and other cells.
Hemosiderosis is a condition characterized by the accumulation of excess hemosiderin, often caused by excessive iron intake or breakdown of red blood cells.
Lipofuscin is a "wear and tear" (aging) pigment that accumulates in cells over time.
Melanin is a pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color.
Melanin's primary function is to protect the body from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder that leads to an accumulation of iron in tissues (primarily the liver, pancreas, heart, and joints), which can lead to organ damage.
Brown pigment accumulation in cardiac muscle cells can indicate aging.
Black pigmentation of the gums can be caused by ingestion of certain metals, like lead, or by exposure to certain chemicals.
The deposition of black carbon particles in macrophages, particularly in the lungs from smoking or air pollution, can contribute to lung disease.

Uric Acid Accumulation

Gout is a condition characterized by the crystallization of uric acid in joints and tissues, resulting in inflammation and pain.
Overproduction of uric acid or under-excretion can lead to hyperuricemia, increasing the risk of gout.
Oxidative stress and cellular senescence in long-lived cells can be caused by the accumulation of free radical damage over time.

Amyloid Accumulation

Amyloid is a generic term for protein deposits that accumulate in tissue in a variety of disease states.
Amyloid accumulation is characterized by the deposition of a homogenous, glassy, pink material within cells (intracellular) or in the extracellular space.
Amyloid deposits appear as birefringent under polarized light, often exhibiting a green-yellow birefringence.

Mucin Accumulation

Myxomatous degeneration is a condition characterized by the accumulation of mucopolysaccharide (mucin) in connective tissue, such as heart valves.
Mucin accumulation in the dermis is referred to as Myxedema.
A common cause of myxomatous degeneration is connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and rheumatic heart disease.

Other Accumulations

Amyloidosis is a group of disorders characterized by the extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrillar proteins.
Common causes of amyloidosis include:
- Chronic inflammation: Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis can lead to amyloid accumulation.
- Multiple Myeloma: A type of blood cancer where cancerous plasma cells produce abnormal proteins.
- Familial amyloidosis: Genetic disorders affecting amyloid precursor protein production.
Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals are the main component of gout deposits.
MSU Crystals appear needle-shaped under polarized light, often exhibiting a yellow-blue birefringence.
Dietary factors that contribute to MSU crystal accumulation include:
- High intake of purine rich foods: Foods like organ meats, red meat, seafood, and alcoholic beverages.
Impaired elimination of uric acid can result in increased levels of uric acid in the blood, leading to gout.
Calcium deposition in tissues can be either dystrophic or metastatic.
Dystrophic calcification occurs in damaged or necrotic tissue, while metastatic calcification is a systemic condition where calcium is deposited in normal tissue.
Causes of dystrophic calcification include:
- Atherosclerosis: Calcium deposits within the arteries.
- Tuberculosis: Calcium deposits in the lung.
- Necrosis: Calcium can be deposited in areas of cell death.

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Description

Test your knowledge on intracellular accumulation and extracellular deposition, including fatty change, steatosis, and cholesterol accumulation. Learn about the causes and effects of these cellular changes, often seen in conditions like atherosclerosis and diabetes.