|
  • Search Results
  • Advanced Search
  • List Builder
  • Random Word

apoptosis

DEFINITIONS OF: apoptosis

1

n 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

Synonyms:
caspase-mediated cell death, programmed cell death
Type of:
cell death, necrobiosis
(physiology) the normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells)
Launch
WORD FAMILY
USAGE EXAMPLES