Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

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What are cells called when they are deprived of oxygen and die?

  1. Necrotic cells

  2. Infarcted cells

  3. Apoptotic cells

  4. Hypoxic cells

The correct answer is: Infarcted cells

When cells are deprived of oxygen and subsequently die, they are classified as infarcted cells. This condition occurs when there is an obstruction in blood flow, which leads to a lack of oxygen and nutrients reaching the affected tissue. The term "infarction" specifically refers to the area of tissue that undergoes necrosis due to ischemia, underlining the connection between the loss of blood supply and cell death. Necrotic cells refer broadly to any cells that have died due to injury, infection, or lack of blood supply, but the term does not specify oxygen deprivation as a cause. Apoptotic cells are those that undergo programmed cell death, a controlled process distinct from necrosis caused by lack of oxygen. Hypoxic cells are cells that are currently experiencing low oxygen levels but may not have died yet. Infarcted cells represent a clear outcome of this process where the cells are already dead due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.