Which of the following statements about cellular adaptations is correct?
- A Cervical squamous metaplasia in chronic irritation is an irreversible change
- B Physiological hypertrophy of the uterus during pregnancy occurs through myocyte hyperplasia
- C Brown atrophy of the heart is due to accumulation of lipofuscin in atrophied myocytes ✓
- D Denervation of skeletal muscle causes hypertrophy due to loss of trophic signals
Correct answer: C. Brown atrophy of the heart is due to accumulation of lipofuscin in atrophied myocytes
Explanation
Brown atrophy of the heart refers to reduced heart size with lipofuscin (wear-and-tear pigment) accumulation in residual myocytes, giving a brown tint. Cervical squamous metaplasia is reversible if the irritant is removed. Uterine enlargement in pregnancy involves both hypertrophy and hyperplasia of smooth muscle. Denervation causes atrophy, not hypertrophy, due to loss of trophic signals.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.