Increase in number of new cells is known as?

ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Pathology & Genetics

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Explanation

Hyperplasia is defined as an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue in response to a stimulus.
This process occurs in tissues where cells are capable of dividing.
It can be a normal physiological response, such as the proliferation of breast glandular epithelium during pregnancy.
It can also be pathological, like endometrial hyperplasia due to excess estrogen, which increases the risk of cancer.

Option B: Hypoplasia is the underdevelopment of a tissue or organ due to a decrease in the number of cells, which is the opposite of what the question describes.
Option C: This option is a misspelling, likely of 'Hypercalcemia'. Hypercalcemia is a condition of elevated calcium levels in the blood and is unrelated to an increase in the number of cells.
Option D: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, not an increase in the number of cells. While it also leads to organ enlargement, the underlying cellular mechanism is different.

Visual 1: Diagram: A comparative illustration showing a normal tissue sample alongside samples depicting hyperplasia (more cells), hypertrophy (bigger cells), and atrophy (fewer, smaller cells). This visual helps differentiate the key cellular adaptations.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Cellular Adaptations as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy is crucial for interpreting clinical findings. For example, an enlarged prostate in an older man is typically due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), an increase in cell number.
Pathologic hyperplasia can be a precursor to cancer. For instance, a nurse caring for a patient with endometrial hyperplasia must be aware of the increased risk for endometrial cancer and the importance of follow-up and monitoring.
What if? If the patient was a bodybuilder with increased muscle mass, the underlying process would be hypertrophy (increased cell size), not hyperplasia, as adult skeletal muscle cells have limited ability to divide.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'increase in number' and 'new cells'.
Next, recall the definitions of the basic cellular adaptations provided in the options.
Match the key terms from the question to the correct definition. 'Hyper-' means 'increase' or 'excessive', and '-plasia' relates to formation or growth.
Differentiate the correct term from close distractors. Specifically, distinguish 'hyperplasia' (increase in cell number) from 'hypertrophy' (increase in cell size).
Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect or irrelevant, such as 'Hypoplasia' (decrease) and 'Hypercalcemia' (a metabolic condition).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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