Question

The body has a remarkable way of healing, specifically with tissue repair. Tissues are repaired by fibrosis and regeneration. What are the differences between the two types of tissue repair? Give examples of the cells and tissues involved in both repair processes

Answer 1

The injured tissue can be repaired by either regeneration or by fibrosis.

Regeneration is a process of healing in which injured/damaged cells are replaced by cells of the same type leaving behind no evidence/save of the injury.

Fibrosis is a process of repair in which injured/damaged cells are replaced by cells of other types which leads to considerable tissue remodeling and formation of permanent tissue scar. Here connective tissues replaces the parenchymal tissues.

Differences :-

Regeneration	Fibrosis
Complete restoration of damaged tissues and cells to their normal state.	Proliferation of connective tissue with restoration of tissue architecture and function without complete restoration of original tissue.
Heals minor types of damages	Heals major type of damages
Scar is not formed.	Formation of scar tissues.
Capable of healing the damage with no permanent damage remains.	May store some of the original structures of damaged tissues, but may also result in structural abnormalities which leads to impair functions.
Cells and tissues undergoing regeneration are:- Epithelial cells Muscle tissues such as smooth muscles.	Cells and tissues undergoing fibrosis are :- Hepatocytes (liver cells) Cardiac Muscles.