necrosis

noun

ne·​cro·​sis nə-ˈkrō-səs 

ne-

plural necroses nə-ˈkrō-ˌsēz 

ne-

: usually localized death of living tissue

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Cells die naturally after a period of time, but may also die as a result of injuries, infections, or cancer. Burns produce necrosis, and the bedsores suffered by nursing-home patients are a form of necrosis. The dreaded condition known as gangrene, in which the dying tissue turns black or green, is another form. When untreated, the dying cells release substances that lead to the death of surrounding cells, so untreated necrosis can lead to death. Treatment usually requires the removal of the necrotic tissue, and in severe cases can even involve amputating a limb.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

In chronic inflammatory disease, Tracey figured, messages from the brain telling the spleen to switch off production of a particular inflammatory protein, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), weren’t being sent. —Gaia Vince, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2015

It’s believed that more than 400 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, which can lead to blindness, nerve damage, tissue necrosis necessitating amputation, kidney failure, and stroke. —Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 21 Sep. 2022

Compared with those with a CD4 count above 300, those with a count below 100 were much more likely to have skin lesions leading to necrosis, impacts to the lungs and other infections and sepsis. —Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2023

As early as 1917, women detailing watch dials with the luminous paint suffered from anemia, bone fractures, and necrosis of the jaw, a result of them using their pursed lips to shape the contaminated brush tips into a fine point. —John Lisle, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Sep. 2020

Twenty-two days after the necrosis started, the patient was started on an antifungal treatment. —Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2016

In the liver, blocking this enzyme causes a cascade of trouble that results in cell death and tissue necrosis. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2022

The most serious potential side effect is the chance development of skin necrosis, which both Dr. Tutela and Dr. Bitar say is extremely rare, but entirely possible, depending on the injector or clinician providing the service. —Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 30 Sep. 2022

The official cause, which Wengrow was reluctant to discuss, was pancreatic necrosis. —Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 11 July 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek nekrōsis, from nekroun to make dead, from nekros dead body

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing necrosis

• tumor necrosis factor
• phloem necrosis
• avascular necrosis

• tumor necrosis factor
• phloem necrosis
• avascular necrosis

Medical Definition

necrosis

noun

ne·​cro·​sis nə-ˈkrō-səs, ne- 

plural necroses -ˌsēz 

: death of living tissue

specifically : death of a portion of tissue differentially affected by local injury (as loss of blood supply, corrosion, burning, or the local lesion of a disease) compare necrobiosis