4C

• Apoptosis


  The controlled death of cells in the body. Also known as programmed cell death
• Mitochondrial Pathway


  The pathway of apoptosis which is initiated by the detection of internal cellular damage. Also known as the intrinsic pathway
• Death Receptor Pathway


  The pathway of apoptosis which is initiated by the reception of extracellular death signaling molecules. Also known as the extrinsic pathway
• Caspase Enzymes


  Catalysts that cleave specific intracellular proteins during apoptosis
• Cytochrome C


  A protein embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane
• Blebbing


  The bulging of the plasma membrane to form apoptotic bodies
• Apoptotic Bodies


  Vesicles containing cell contents that are released from a dying cell during apoptosis and engulfed by phagocytes
• Phagocyte


  A cell of the immune system responsible for engulfing and destroying harmful microorganisms and foreign material
• Phagocytosis


  Endocytosis of solid material or food particles
• Tumour


  A mass of abnormal cells
• Benign Tumour


  A tumour that lacks the ability to spread throughout other tissues and organs
• Malignant Tumour


  Abnormal cells with the ability to invade nearby tissue and migrate to other parts of the body. Also known as cancerous cells
• Cancer


  A disease caused by the uncontrolled replication of cells with the ability to migrate to other parts of the body
• Metastasis


  The migration of tumour cells from the primary tumour site to distant parts of the body