An 86-year-old female patient has the wasting syndrome of aging, making her vulnerable to falls, functional decline, disease, and death. The nurse knows this patient is experiencing:

Altered cellular and tissue biology can refer to cellular adaptations that cells make to protect themselves from injury, or to the effects of environmental stimuli or disease on cells.  Cellular adaptations include: Atrophy: A decrease in cell size Hypertrophy: An increase in cell size Hyperplasia: An increase in cell number Dysplasia: Atypical hyperplasia Metaplasia: A cellular adaptation  Cells can adapt to physiologic demands or stress to achieve homeostasis. When cells are pushed beyond their adaption capacity, they can become injured.  Cellular injury can be caused by: Hypoxia:... Show more

Altered cellular and tissue biology can refer to cellular adaptations that cells make to protect themselves from injury, or to the effects of environmental stimuli or disease on cells. 

Cellular adaptations include:
Atrophy: A decrease in cell size
Hypertrophy: An increase in cell size
Hyperplasia: An increase in cell number
Dysplasia: Atypical hyperplasia
Metaplasia: A cellular adaptation 

Cells can adapt to physiologic demands or stress to achieve homeostasis. When cells are pushed beyond their adaption capacity, they can become injured. 
Cellular injury can be caused by:
Hypoxia: Lack of oxygen
Free radicals: Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Chemical or toxic injury: Xenobiotics, carbon tetrachloride, lead, ethanol, mercury, carbon monoxide, social or street drugs, chemical agents including drugs, opioid abuse
Environmental toxins: Air pollution, heavy metals, lead, cadmium and arsenic, ethanol, fetal alcohol syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Related Test: Pathophysiology Practice Test: Cellular Biology

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