In histo

Histology

Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...

pathology

Pathology

Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....

, feathery degeneration, formally feathery degeneration of hepatocytes, is a form of liver

Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...

 parenchymal

Parenchyma

Parenchyma is a term used to describe a bulk of a substance. It is used in different ways in animals and in plants.The term is New Latin, f. Greek παρέγχυμα - parenkhuma, "visceral flesh", f. παρεγχεῖν - parenkhein, "to pour in" f. para-, "beside" + en-, "in" + khein, "to pour"...

 cell

Cell (biology)

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....

 (i.e. hepatocyte

Hepatocyte

A hepatocyte is a cell of the main tissue of the liver. Hepatocytes make up 70-80% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass.These cells are involved in:* Protein synthesis* Protein storage* Transformation of carbohydrates...

) death

Death

Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....

 associated with cholestasis

Cholestasis

In medicine, cholestasis is a condition where bile cannot flow from the liver to the duodenum. The two basic distinctions are an obstructive type of cholestasis where there is a mechanical blockage in the duct system such as can occur from a gallstone or malignancy and metabolic types of...

.

Cells undergoing this form of cell death have a flocculant appearing cytoplasm, and are larger than normal hepatocytes.

Relation to ballooning degeneration

Feathery degeneration is somewhat similar in appearance to ballooning degeneration

Ballooning degeneration

In histopathology, ballooning degeneration, formally ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, is a form of liver parenchymal cell death....

, which is due to other causes (e.g. alcohol

Alcohol

In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....

, obesity

Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...

); it also has cytoplasmic clearing and cell swelling.

See also

• Elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
  Elevated alkaline phosphatase
  Elevated alkaline phosphatase is a condition where the levels of alkaline phosphatase exceed that found in a reference range. It can be associated with certain medical conditions. or syndromes...
  
  
• Mallory body
  Mallory body
  In histopathology, a Mallory body, Mallory-Denk body, and Mallory's hyaline, is an inclusion found in the cytoplasm of liver cells.-Associated conditions:...
  
  
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one cause of a fatty liver, occurring when fat is deposited in the liver not due to excessive alcohol use. It is related to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome and may respond to treatments originally developed for other insulin-resistant states...
  
  
• Steatohepatitis
  Steatohepatitis
  Steatohepatitis is a type of liver disease, characterized by inflammation of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation in liver...
  
  
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease caused by progressive inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts of the liver. The inflammation impedes the flow of bile to the gut, which can ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer...
  
  

External links

• Ballooning degeneration and feathery degeneration - what is the difference? - a T-shirt that asks the question - zcache.com.