What Types Of Cells Are Most Sensitive To Radiation Damage?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Amongst the body cells, the most sensitive are

spermatogonia

Which types of cells are more sensitive to radiation?


Cells in late G2 and mitosis (M-phase)

are the most sensitive to radiation, and cells in late synthesis (S-phase) are the most resistant (Fig. 23.10).

What cells does radiation damage?

When radiation dose is large

Because of damage to DNA and resulting cell death,

white blood cells

can decrease and mucosa of the digestive tract may become injured, resulting in diarrhea, among other symptoms.

What tissue is most susceptible to radiation?

If the cell changes are more subtle, the cell may be unable to reproduce altogether or the new cells produced may be abnormal and not viable. The tissues most affected by radiation are those that undergo rapid replacement, such as bone marrow,

the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and skin

.

Are immature cells the most sensitive to radiation?

Actively dividing cells that are less differentiated tend to show higher radiosensitivity. …

Immature (undifferentiated) hematopoietic cells that have

divided (proliferated) from stem cells are highly sensitive to radiation and die due to a small amount of radiation more easily than differentiated cells.

Why are rapidly dividing cells more sensitive to radiation?

The reason that rapidly growing cells are sensitive (in the sense that they are easily damaged or killed), is that

during cell division, one double-stranded DNA becomes two single-stranded DNA chains.

What are 5 effects of radiation?

Dose (rem) Effects 5-20 Possible late effects; possible chromosomal damage. 20-100 Temporary reduction in white blood cells. 100-200 Mild radiation sickness within a few hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue; reduction in resistance to infection.

What are 3 effects of radiation?

Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast, can cause acute health effects such as

skin burns and acute radiation syndrome

(“radiation sickness”). It can also result in long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How do you rid your body of radiation?


Gently washing with water and soap

removes additional radiation particles from the skin. Decontamination prevents radioactive materials from spreading more. It also lowers the risk of internal contamination from inhalation, ingestion or open wounds.

What is the main source of radiation?

The majority of background radiation occurs naturally from

minerals

and a small fraction comes from man-made elements. Naturally occurring radioactive minerals in the ground, soil, and water produce background radiation. The human body even contains some of these naturally-occurring radioactive minerals.

What organs are affected by radiation?

  • Brain. Nerve cells (neurons) and brain blood vessels can die, leading to seizures.
  • Eyes. Radiation exposure increases the risk of cataracts.
  • Thyroid. …
  • Lungs. …
  • Heart. …
  • GI tract. …
  • Reproductive organs. …
  • Skin.

Which of the following areas of the body are most sensitive to radiation damage?

Radiation sickness occurs when high-energy radiation damages or destroys certain cells in your body. Regions of the body most vulnerable to high-energy radiation are cells

in the lining of your intestinal tract

, including your stomach, and the blood cell-producing cells of bone marrow.

Which organ is most radiosensitive?


The gastrointestinal (GI) tract

is among the most radiosensitive organ systems in the body. In addition to the intestinal epithelium crypt, radiation exposure damages supporting structures such as endocrine glands of the GI tract [2].

Which organ is least sensitive to radiation?

Amongst the body cells, the most sensitive are spermatogonia and erythroblasts, epidermal stem cells, gastrointestinal stem cells. The least sensitive are

nerve cells and muscle fibers

.

Why is bone marrow sensitive to radiation?

The cells in your bone marrow are sensitive to

radiation therapy

. The number of WBCs, RBCs, and platelets in your body may decrease, depending on the part of your body being treated and the dosage of radiation.

What is the most radiosensitive part of the eye?


LENS

.

The lens

is the most radiosensitive structure of the eye and cataract is a well recognized long-term consequence of radiotherapy.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.