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| | ==[[Cellular Swelling]]== | | ==[[Cellular Swelling]]== |
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| − | * Cellular swelling is
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| − | ** The earliest detectable degenerative change.
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| − | ** The mildest form of cellular degeneration.
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| − | ** The first stage in injury to a cell.
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| − | ** Caused by a variety of insults, e.g.
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| − | *** Lack of oxygen (anoxia) to a tissue.
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| − | *** Toxic influences.
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| − | * Is due to the impairment of the integrity of the cell membrane.
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| − | * Cellular swelling is characterised by a moderate swelling of the individual cells.
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| − | ** Due to an influx of water into the cell.
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| − | ===Gross Appearance===
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| − | * Organs diffusely affected with cloudy swelling grossly appear pale.
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| − | ** This may be partly due to the swollen cells impeding the tissue's blood supply.
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| − | * Without cutting into an organ, it may be difficult to appreciate a gross enlargement of it.
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| − | ** Each individual cell is increased in size, meaning the entire volume of the organ is also increased.
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| − | ** E.g. on cutting the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] or kidney capsule, the underlying swollen parenchyma bulges outwards, making the cut ends of the capsule retract.
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| − | * The degree of gross swelling is not great.
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| − | ** Could be easily confused with early post-mortem changes in the organ.
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| − |
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| − | ===Histological Appearance===
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| − | * Individual cells appear somewhat swollen.
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| − | * The cytoplasm appears more red in colour in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections.
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| − | * The nucleus of the cell remains normal.
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| − | * Cellular swelling is best histologically appreciated in the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] and kidney in damage caused by circulating toxins that are not powerful enough to actually kill the cells.
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| − | ===Significance of Cellular Swelling===
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| − | * Cellular swelling is an important stage in degeneration.
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| − | ** Not commonly observed on its own without more serious changes
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| − | *** Not easy to identify at post-mortem unless the examination is performed very soon after the animal's death.
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| − | **** Early post-mortem (autolytic) change in dead tissue looks rather similar.
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| − | *** Cellular swelling is also reversible.
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| − | **** When the toxin is no longer exerting its effect, the tissue returns to normal.
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| − | *** Cellular swelling may be a transient stage in the more serious forms of degenerations which follow.
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| − | [[Category:Degenerations and Infiltrations]]
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