apoptosis

Programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells. See also cell

Programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells. See also: cell

(A-pop-TOH-sis) A type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell leads to its death. This is the body's normal way of getting rid of unneeded or abnormal cells. The process of apoptosis may be blocked in cancer cells. Also called programmed cell death.

The process of programmed cell death, which occurs naturally as a part of normal development, maintenance and renewal of tissue. Differs from necrosis, in which cell death is caused by external factors (stress or toxin).

Genetically programmed cell death.