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Question 406
Pathology → General
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
A tissue exposed to an altered environment adapts by replacing its normal differentiated mature cell type with another differentiated mature cell type. Removal of the stimulus may allow the tissue to return to its original phenotype. Which process is described?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
Dysplasia
B
Hypertrophy
C
Heteroplasia
D
Metaplasia
E
Necrosis
Explanation
Metaplasia is a reversible adaptive process in which one differentiated mature cell type is replaced by another differentiated mature cell type.
Option Validity
A) Dysplasia is abnormal maturation with disordered cellular arrangement, pleomorphism and loss of polarity.
B) Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size without an increase in cell number.
C) Heteroplasia refers to abnormal growth of cells in an inappropriate location in the absence of a stimulus.
E) Necrosis is irreversible local cell death following injury.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 5: Pathology. General Pathology, pp.161–175.