Metaplasia Regressive

Regressive metaplasia (m. regressiva; synonym anaplastic) is a pathological process in which differentiated tissue cells are transformed into less differentiated forms.

With regressive metaplasia, reverse tissue development occurs - differentiated cells lose specialized functions and acquire primitive structural features. This process can be due to various reasons: chronic inflammation, prolonged irritation, insufficient blood supply to the tissue.

Regressive metaplasia is often observed in epithelial tissues - cells of the transitional epithelium of the bladder can turn into stratified squamous epithelium. In the glandular epithelium of the stomach and intestines, during gastritis and colitis, glandular cells are replaced by connective tissue.

Regressive metaplasia is a precancerous tissue change, as it leads to impaired cell differentiation. Therefore, timely detection and treatment of regressive metaplasia processes is important for preventing the development of malignant neoplasms.

Epithelial metaplasia in this case is not associated with the formation of structures. Under a microscope, the cell structure does not change. This is a pathological process that represents the transformation of ordinary squamous epithelium, in which there are basal cells, into layered epithelium, where there are no basal cells. And characteristic of our type of tissue structure (intestines). This requires functional necessity, destruction or restructuring of the surrounding epithelium. When tissue begins to regenerate after damage (for example, after injury).