In the event of hypoxia, cells undergo several structural changes. The most notable is the swelling of mitochondria due to impaired oxidative phosphorylation. This swelling disrupts the normal architecture of the cell and may lead to cell death if the hypoxic condition persists. Additionally, hypoxia induces the formation of vacuoles and can cause changes in the cytoskeleton, making cells appear larger and more irregular under a microscope.
