CHAPTER
3
Cellular Characteristics of
NECROSIS
PREPARED BY: JESHA ISSALENA GOOD ESTACIO
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
NORMAL
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
PKYNOSIS
PYKNOSIS
From the Greek word: pyknono, meaning “to thicken up” or “to
condense”.
Hence,
pyknosis
is
the
thickening,
especially
degeneration of a cell in which the nucleus shrinks in size and the
chromatin condenses to a solid, structures mass or masses.
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
KARYOSCHISIS
KARYOSCHISIS
From the Greek word: karyon, meaning “nut” or “kernel” and skhisis,
meaning ‘splitting“. Hence, karyoschisis is the appearance of
cracks or break-lines in the nucleus but the fragments remain in the
near normal position within the cell.
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
KARYORRHEXIS
KARYORRHEXIS
From the Greek word: karyon, meaning “nut” or “kernel” and rhexis,
meaning “bursting”. Hence karyorrhexis is the rupture of the cell
nucleus in which the chromatin disintegrates into formless
granules that are extruded from the cell.
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
KARYOLYSIS
KARYOLYSIS
From the Greek word: karyon, meaning “nut” or “kernel” and luoo,
meaning “to dissolve”. Hence, karyolysis is the dissolution of
nuclear chromatin or liquefaction of the nucleus, leaving a hollow,
large ghost form of the nucleus.
NUCLEAR ALTERATION
KARYOLYSIS
CHROMATOLYSIS
From the Greek word: chroma, meaning “color” and luoo, meaning
“to dissolve”. Hence, chromatolysis is the disintegration of the
chromatin of cell nuclei.
FORMS OF NECROSIS
COAGULATIVE NECROSIS
N O R M A L
Normal appearance of glomerulus
D E A D
T I S S U E
Coagulative necrosis of glomerulus
COAGULATIVE NECROSIS
The architectural outline of the tissue is maintained but the cellular details are lost.
Etiology: Local ischemia, toxic products of certain bacteria, and locally acting poisons.
FORMS OF NECROSIS
CASEOUS
NECROSIS
N O R M A L
Normal appearance of a lymph node
D E A D
T I S S U E
Caseous necrosis of the lung
(tuberculous lymphadenitis)
CASEOUS NECROSIS
The architectural outline of the tissue is lost and cells are no longer recognizable.
Etiology: Locally acting toxins of specific microorganisms of the disease, and part of the
typical lesion of tuberculosis, ovine caseous lymphadenitis and other granulomas.
FORMS OF NECROSIS
LIQUEFACTIVE NECROSIS
N O R M A L
Normal appearance of the brain
D E A D
T I S S U E
Liquefactive necrosis in the brain
LIQUEFACTION NECROSIS
The necrotic area appears as an empty space without definitive lining. The architectural
outline of the tissue is lost.
Etiology: Ischaemic injury and bacterial/fungal infections.