most of the capacity of the original liver. Another example is the hypertrophy of one organ to assume the capacity lost when the other kidney has been lost or surgically removed. Toxic damage to cells and tissues can be transient and non-lethal or in severe situations, the damage may cause death of the cells or tissues. The following diagram illustrates the various effects that can occur with damage to cells. As can be seen, there are four main final endpoints to the cellular or biochemical toxicity: The tissue may be completely repaired and return to normal The tissue may be incompletely repaired but is capable of sustaining its function with reduced capacity Death of the organism or the complete loss of a tissue or organ. In some instances, the organism can continue to live with the aid of medical treatment, e.g., replacement of insulin or by organ transplantations. Neoplasm or cancers may result, many which will result in death of the organism and some, which may be cured by medical treatment. Reversible Cell Damage The response of cells to toxic injury may be transient and reversible once the stress has been removed or the compensatory cellular changes made. In some cases the full capability of the damaged cells returns. In other cases, a degree of permanent injury remains with a diminished cellular or tissue capacity. In addition to the adaptive cell changes discussed previously, two commonly encountered specific cell changes are associated with toxic exposures, cellular swelling and fatty change. Cellular swelling (which is due to cellular is associated with hypertrophy) hypoxia, which damages the sodium-potassium membrane pump. This in turn changes the intracellular electrolyte balance with an influx of fluids into the cell, causing it to swell. Cell swelling is reversible when the cause has been eliminated.
most of the capacity of the original liver. Another example is the hypertrophy of one organ to assume the capacity lost when the other kidney has been lost or surgically removed. Toxic damage to cells and tissues can be transient and non-lethal or in severe situations, the damage may cause death of the cells or tissues. The following diagram illustrates the various effects that can occur with damage to cells. As can be seen, there are four main final endpoints to the cellular or biochemical toxicity: The tissue may be completely repaired and return to normal The tissue may be incompletely repaired but is capable of sustaining its function with reduced capacity Death of the organism or the complete loss of a tissue or organ. In some instances, the organism can continue to live with the aid of medical treatment, e.g., replacement of insulin or by organ transplantations. Neoplasm or cancers may result, many which will result in death of the organism and some, which may be cured by medical treatment. Reversible Cell Damage The response of cells to toxic injury may be transient and reversible once the stress has been removed or the compensatory cellular changes made. In some cases the full capability of the damaged cells returns. In other cases, a degree of permanent injury remains with a diminished cellular or tissue capacity. In addition to the adaptive cell changes discussed previously, two commonly encountered specific cell changes are associated with toxic exposures, cellular swelling and fatty change. Cellular swelling (which is associated with hypertrophy) is due to cellular hypoxia, which damages the sodium-potassium membrane pump. This in turn changes the intracellular electrolyte balance with an influx of fluids into the cell, causing it to swell. Cell swelling is reversible when the cause has been eliminated.