Membranruptur

Membranruptur denotes rupture or tearing of a biological membrane. The term is used in several fields, notably cell biology and obstetrics, to describe a loss of membrane integrity that compromises compartmentalization and homeostasis.

In cells, membrane rupture disrupts the phospholipid bilayer and the barrier between the cytoplasm and the surrounding medium. It can arise from mechanical injury, osmotic stress, chemical damage (detergents, solvents), extreme temperature, enzymatic activity, or necrosis and apoptosis. Consequences include loss of selective permeability, ionic imbalance, swelling, leakage of cytosolic contents, and inflammatory signaling, potentially leading to cell death. In laboratory settings, controlled membrane rupture is used for methods such as electroporation or chemical permeabilization to introduce DNA, drugs, or probes into cells.

In obstetrics, rupture of membranes refers to rupture of the amniotic sac (chorioamniotic membranes) surrounding the fetus, resulting in the release of amniotic fluid. It can occur spontaneously around term as part of labor or earlier as premature rupture of membranes (PROM or PPROM), or be induced by a clinician (amniotomy). Risk factors include infection, multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, cervical insufficiency, prior ROM, and smoking. Complications can include chorioamnionitis, umbilical cord prolapse, fetal distress, and adverse outcomes when delivery is delayed after rupture.

Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment of fluid leakage, with adjunct tests such as nitrazine pH testing or ferning on microscopy, and ultrasound as needed to assess fetal status. Management is guided by gestational age and fetal condition, ranging from monitoring to induction of labor or cesarean delivery when indicated.