Question

Which of these features a reversible change in cell polarity?

• A. Dysplasia
• B. Metaplasia
• C. Anaplasia
• D. Hyperplasia

Hint:

Dysplasia disturbs cell polarity and orientation, and can reverse if the cause is removed early.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The question is asking which cellular change shows disordered but reversible orientation of cells, that is, a polarity problem.

1. Dysplasia: Cells lose their normal size, shape and orderly polarity, along with increased mitotic activity. This disorder is a pre-cancerous change, and importantly it can reverse if the trigger is removed in time.
2. Metaplasia: One mature cell type is swapped for another, better suited type, for example columnar to squamous. This is about cell type, not the orientation of individual cells, and it is reversible too, but it does not describe a polarity defect.
3. Anaplasia: Cells lose differentiation almost completely and take on a wild, disorganised appearance typical of malignancy. This change is not reversible.
4. Hyperplasia: An increase in the number of normally arranged cells in response to a stimulus. The cells keep their normal polarity, so this option does not fit either.

Only dysplasia specifically combines a disturbance of cell polarity with the possibility of reversal once the offending stimulus is gone.

Let's summarize:

• Dysplasia disturbs cell polarity, size and shape, and can reverse early on.
• Metaplasia, anaplasia and hyperplasia do not match a polarity based, reversible change the way dysplasia does.

The correct answer is dysplasia.