Metaplasia vs. Anaplasia — What's the Difference?

Metaplasia (Greek: "change in form") is the transformation of one differentiated cell type to another differentiated cell type. The change from one type of cell to another may be part of a normal maturation process, or caused by some sort of abnormal stimulus.

Anaplasia (from Ancient Greek: ἀνά ana, "backward" + πλάσις plasis, "formation") is a condition of cells with poor cellular differentiation, losing the morphological characteristics of mature cells and their orientation with respect to each other and to endothelial cells. The term also refers to a group of morphological changes in a cell (nuclear pleomorphism, altered nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, presence of nucleoli, high proliferation index) that point to a possible malignant transformation.Such loss of structural differentiation is especially seen in most, but not all, malignant neoplasms.

Normal transformation of tissue from one type to another, as in the ossification of cartilage to form bone.

Reversion of cells to an immature or a less differentiated form, as occurs in most malignant tumors.

Transformation of cells from a normal to an abnormal state.

(biology) A reversion of differentiation in cells that is characteristic of malignancy in tumours.

(biology) The conversion of one type of tissue into another.

Loss of structural differentiation within a cell or group of cells often with increased capacity for multiplication, as in a malignant tumor.

Loss of structural differentiation within a cell or group of cells often with increased capacity for multiplication, as in a malignant tumor