noun
necrosis
nuh-KROH-sis/neˈkrəʊsɪs/
Death of tissue in a living body.
Poor blood flow causes necrosis in the tissue around the wound.
Etymology
Greek nekrosis meant a becoming dead or state of death. The medical meaning applies that death to cells or tissue within a body that is still alive.
In context
First, you have necrosis. That's just the medical term for tissue death, usually because the blood supply gets choked off.
More examples
- Severe burns can cause necrosis deep beneath the skin.
- The biopsy reveals small areas of necrosis.
- Extensive necrosis may require surgery to remove the dead tissue.
Forms
necrosis · necroses
necrotic adjective — Relating to or showing tissue death.
Similar words
- gangrene
- A form of tissue death associated with lost circulation or infection.
- infarction
- Tissue death specifically caused by an interrupted blood supply.