Library · Cellular process

Necrosis

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In the classic morphologic pattern of necrosis, the cell grows larger and its organelles, the working structures inside the cell, also swell. Picture a wrapper being stretched from within until it breaks: that wrapper is the plasma membrane.

When the membrane loses its integrity, intracellular contents spill out and reach the neighboring tissue. This release triggers inflammation in the tissue around the cell.

In brief

Necrosis is a process of cell death whose classic morphologic pattern includes increased cell volume, swelling of organelles, rupture of the plasma membrane, and loss of intracellular contents.

When the plasma membrane loses its integrity and cellular contents spill into the surrounding tissue, inflammation is triggered in that tissue.

Sources (2)
  1. NCBI MedGen, definition provided by National Cancer InstituteNecrosis
  2. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of Translational Toxicology, NIHBasic Cellular and Tissue Microscopic Responses to Toxicity

This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.

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