What are the two stages of cell death?

• A. Initial alteration in metabolism; then loss of function (recovery possible if factor removed quickly)
• B. Loss of function followed by metabolic alteration
• C. Immediate necrosis with no recovery
• D. No change occurs

Answer: (B)

The two stages of cell injury begin with loss of function, followed by metabolic alteration. When a cell is stressed, energy failure quickly impairs essential processes like the Na+/K+ pumps and basic membrane functions, so normal cellular activities stop—that’s the functional loss. If the harmful factor persists, metabolic processes become disrupted: ATP production falls further, calcium homeostasis is disturbed, membranes deteriorate, and key metabolic pathways fail, pushing the cell toward irreversible damage and death. This sequence explains why recovery is sometimes possible if the stress is removed early (reversible injury), but once metabolic disturbances take hold, the cell is on a path to death. Immediate necrosis with no recovery skips the reversible stage, and no change would imply no injury at all.