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Cellular Adaptations Quiz
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Which statement best defines hyperplasia?
- A Increase in tissue size due to an increase in the number of cells You picked ✓
- B Increase in tissue size due to enlargement of existing cells You picked ✕
- C Replacement of normal cells with malignant cells You picked ✕
- D Increase in tissue size due to proliferation of fibrous connective tissue You picked ✕
- E Increase in tissue size due to accumulation of intracellular fluid You picked ✕
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is A: Increase in tissue size due to an increase in the number of cells
Explanation
Why A is correct
See Hyperplasia. Option A is correct. Hyperplasia is an increase in the size of a tissue or organ because the number of cells in it increases. The cells divide in response to a stimulus such as a hormone or growth factor, and they remain normal in size and appearance. It can be physiological (normal and useful), for example thickening of the endometrium under oestrogen during the menstrual cycle and regrowth of the liver after part of it is removed. It can also be pathological (harmful), for example when the endometrium is overstimulated by unopposed oestrogen, which raises the chance of dysplasia and then cancer. Hyperplasia usually stops when the stimulus is removed, unlike a tumour. A memory aid: hyperplasia has more cells (think "plus" cells), whereas hypertrophy means cells that are trophy-sized, bigger.
- Definition: an increase in the size of a tissue or organ because the number of cells increases
- Stimulus: cells divide in response to a hormone or growth factor and remain normal in size and appearance
- Examples: physiological, such as the endometrium under oestrogen and liver regrowth, or pathological, such as unopposed oestrogen
- Reversibility: it usually stops when the stimulus is removed, unlike a tumour
Keep the pairs straight: hyperplasia is more cells, hypertrophy is bigger cells, atrophy is smaller or fewer cells, and neoplasia is uncontrolled growth.
Why the other options are incorrect
- B. Increase in tissue size due to enlargement of existing cells: This is hypertrophy, where each cell gets bigger but the number of cells stays the same. Hyperplasia is the opposite, with more cells of normal size. Your answer
- C. Replacement of normal cells with malignant cells: Replacement of normal cells by malignant cells describes neoplasia or invasion by cancer. Hyperplasia is a controlled response to a stimulus and the cells are not malignant. Your answer
- D. Increase in tissue size due to proliferation of fibrous connective tissue: Fibrosis increases tissue bulk by laying down fibrous connective tissue rather than by increasing the number of functional cells. Hyperplasia specifically means more cells. Your answer
- E. Increase in tissue size due to accumulation of intracellular fluid: Fluid accumulation can make an organ swell, but it is not an increase in the number of cells. Hyperplasia is defined by more cells, not by intracellular oedema. Your answer
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1
Which statement best defines metaplasia in human tissues?
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2
A 42-year-old woman undergoes partial hepatectomy following trauma. Over the following weeks, the remaining liver tissue increases in cell number to restore organ mass. Which classification best describes the proliferative capacity of the cells responsible for this response?
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