Necrosis

Synonyms

Death; Gangrene; Sphacelus

Definition

Necrosis is a form of cell death which is distinguished by a number of morphological changes typically rounding of the plasma and cell organelle membranes, plasma membrane dysfunction and cytoplasmic swelling, plasma membrane rupture, and spilling of intracellular contents. Necrosis is commonly described as being accidental or premature, involving an initial trigger then inflammation, and is predominantly detrimental, often fatal, to the organism. This type of cell death is viewed as the opposite to apoptosis, which can be localized to a single cell, does not stimulate the immune system, and is usually beneficial and often essential to the organism. In short, necrosis is typically described as being a disorderly form of cell death. The necrotic death of a cell can induce the necrosis of surrounding cells due to the cell constituents released by the dying cell, so necrosis can spread if left untreated. A good example of the danger of...