What is the term for when cells do not adhere to each other?

The correct term for when cells do not adhere to each other is "decreased cell adhesion." Cell adhesion is a critical biological process where cells interact and attach to neighboring cells through specialized molecules known as adhesion molecules. When this adhesion is decreased, cells may fail to stay connected, leading to various implications in tissue integrity, immune response, and cancer metastasis.

In contexts such as wound healing or tissue development, adequate cell adhesion is essential. A decrease can result in cells becoming more migratory or less organized. This characteristic is particularly relevant in understanding how certain diseases progress, as well as in developmental biology.

The other options do not accurately describe the phenomenon of non-adhering cells. Decreased cell swelling pertains more to changes in cell volume rather than adherence. Increased cell flexibility might refer to the ability of cells to change shape, which does not specifically address their adherence properties. Increased cell growth relates to the proliferation of cells, which can occur independently of how well they adhere to each other. Understanding cell adhesion and its implications is fundamental in fields such as cell biology and pathology.