Final answer:
Contact inhibition is the phenomenon that stops cells from dividing when they come into close contact with each other, maintaining tissue integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon that ensures that cells do not grow abnormally large by stopping them from dividing when they are in close contact with each other is known as contact inhibition. This concept implies that cells in a tissue can signal each other when they have finished forming a tissue, leading to a halt in their division cycle. In contrast, cancer cells typically lack this ability and often continue to grow and divide regardless of cell density, which can lead to tumor growth and metastasis. Contact inhibition plays a critical role in maintaining tissue architecture and function.