Canadian Medical Guide > Biological Sciences > Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity > Cell Physiology > Cell Death > Apoptosis Terms and Definitions




Apoptosis

Medical Definition: One of the two mechanisms by which CELL DEATH occurs (the other being the pathological process of NECROSIS). Apoptosis is the mechanism responsible for the physiological deletion of cells and appears to be intrinsically programmed. It is characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, chromatin cleavage at regularly spaced sites, and the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA; (DNA FRAGMENTATION); at internucleosomal sites. This mode of cell death serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.
Guide Notes: the physiol mechanism of cell death: do not confuse with NECROSIS, pathol cell death; see MeSH definition
Previously Indexed: Cell Survival (1972-1992)
Apoptosis Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Anoikis - APOPTOSIS triggered by loss of contact with the EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition DNA Fragmentation - Endonucleolytic cleavage (cutting both strands) of genomic DNA into fragments at internucleosomal sites. DNA fragmentation along with chromatin condensation are considered the hallmarks of APOPTOSIS.

Apoptosis Medical Definitions and Terms

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