Hydropic degeneration, Fatty change, Glycogen & Myxomatous degenaration

Hydropic change/ hydropic degeneration

This is the advance stage of acute cellular swelling. Causes and mechanisms are same. Here, empty round spaces without distinct outlines are found in the cytoplasm of cells. The nuclei remain in normal positions.

Fatty change

It is the accumulation of discrete droplets of neutral lipids (triglycerides) within the cytoplasm of cells.

Glycogen deposition

It is the excessive accumulation of glycogen in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of liver and kidney, leukocytes, cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, spleen, lymphnodes and brain due to faulty catabolism.

Myxomatous degeneration

It refers to a pathological weakening of connective tissue. The term is most often used in the context of mitral valve prolapse, which is known more technically as "myxomatous mitral valve degeneration."

The degeneration occurs in conjunction with an accumulation of dermatan sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan, within the connective tissue matrix of the valve. The exact mechanism is unknown.

Empty spaces in cytoplasm are found in-

•         Fatty change (spherical, sharp outline),

•         Glycogen deposition (irrgular shaped, no outline),

•         Hydropic change (irregular, hazy, no outline)