Cells and Tissues. Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay.

Cells and Tissues
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Cells and Tissues
Diseases and injuries significantly alter the ability of cells to multiply and function normally. The occurrence of diseases can also result from external stimuli in the changes in the cell's environment, which impedes the maintenance of homeostasis by the cell. In such cases, the cell undergoes cellular adaptation that may be atrophy, metaplasia, hypertrophy, or hyperplasia. A cell can also undergo death, and this can occur in two forms: apoptosis and necrosis. This paper examines the mechanisms that confine tissues and cells to a specific anatomic site, four types of cellular adaptations, and the differences between necrosis and apoptosis.
Three mechanisms that include intercellular recognition and communication, memory, and adhesion, play a role in confining cells and tissues to a particular anatomic site (El-Hussein et al., 2018). Intercellular recognition and communication occur when specialized cells recognize their environment through signals from other cells or growth factors. It is through this communication that cells are produced where and when required. As informed by El-Hussein et al. (2018), communication among cells occur through the formation of protein channels, the display of receptors that influence intracellular processes, and the use of the target's cell receptor proteins. Therefore, cells recognize and communicate with other cells through these mechanisms, consequently influencing the confinement of cells and tissues to a particular anatomic site.
Memory and adhesion are the other mechanisms that are utilized by cells to confine themselves. As informed by El-Hussein et al. (2018), cells have memory due to gene expression induced by signals that occurred during embryonic development. As a result of the memory, cells can preserve their unique characteristics and pass them on to their progeny. In this sense, therefore, memory is an important factor that influences the cellular organization of tissues. Selective cell-to-cell adhesion also impacts the anatomic positioning of cells and tissues. According to El-Hussein et al. (2018), different types of cells have in their plasma membranes different adhesion molecules. This means that cells can selectively stick to other cells of similar types. Therefore, adhesion influences to a great extent the organization of cells and can thus influence the confinement of cells and tissues to a particular site.
Four types of cellular adaptations include atrophy, metaplasia, hypertrophy, and hyp...