Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Test

When cells are deprived of oxygen and die, they are called?

1. Necrotic cells

2. Apoptotic cells

3. Ischemic cells

4. Infarcted cells

The correct answer is: Infarcted cells

The term used to describe cells that have died due to a lack of oxygen is "infarcted cells." When blood supply is obstructed, often by a clot, the affected tissue does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it requires to survive. This process leads to cell death, which is termed infarction. Infarction typically occurs in tissues such as the heart (myocardial infarction) or brain (cerebral infarction), where the blood supply is critical for cellular health. Necrotic cells refer to cells that die due to injury or disease, but the term is broader and does not specifically emphasize the lack of oxygen. Apoptotic cells are part of a regulated process of programmed cell death, which is different from the necrosis associated with lack of oxygen. Ischemic cells refer to cells that are suffering from ischemia, which is a reduction in blood flow, but this term does not explicitly indicate that the cells have died. Therefore, infarcted cells is the most specific and accurate term for cells that have died due to oxygen deprivation.