apoptosis

ap·op·to·sis  (pp-tss, p-t-)

n.

Disintegration of cells into membrane-bound particles that are then eliminated by phagocytosis or by shedding.

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apoptosis  (pp-tss, p-t-)

A natural process of self-destruction in certain cells, such as epithelial cells and erythrocytes, that are genetically programmed to have a limited life span or are damaged. Apoptosis can be induced either by a stimulus, such as irradiation or toxic drugs, or by removal of a repressor agent. The cells disintegrate into membrane-bound particles that are then eliminated by phagocytosis. Also called programmed cell death.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

apoptosis - a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival caspase-mediated cell death, programmed cell death cell death, necrobiosis - (physiology) the normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells)