Cellular swelling indicates?

Cellular swelling indicates?

• A. It indicates healthy cell adaptation to exercise.
• B. It often indicates injury and disruption of homeostasis.
• C. It signals terminal differentiation.
• D. It shows increased protein synthesis.

Answer: (B)

Cellular swelling, or hydropic change, is an early, reversible sign of cell injury caused by disruption of ion and water balance. When ATP production drops, the Na+/K+-ATPase pump fails, sodium accumulates inside the cell and water follows osmotically. This creates swelling of the cell and its organelles, reflecting a loss of homeostasis. If the injurious stimulus is removed, the cell can recover; if not, swelling can progress to irreversible injury and death. It is not a healthy adaptation to exercise, nor a sign of terminal differentiation, nor simply a result of increased protein synthesis.

Cellular swelling, or hydropic change, is an early, reversible sign of cell injury caused by disruption of ion and water balance. When ATP production drops, the Na+/K+-ATPase pump fails, sodium accumulates inside the cell and water follows osmotically. This creates swelling of the cell and its organelles, reflecting a loss of homeostasis. If the injurious stimulus is removed, the cell can recover; if not, swelling can progress to irreversible injury and death. It is not a healthy adaptation to exercise, nor a sign of terminal differentiation, nor simply a result of increased protein synthesis.