Seven Types of Necrosis

The death of cells in a living tissue is called Necrosis. Necrosis is commonly referred to as a bedsore. The degradation of the tissue starts with swelling within the cell and ultimately an interruption of the membranes of the cell. The organelles begin to breakdown and this spreads and causes an inflammation. Necrosis can be caused due to an injury or infection of some kind. If the infection is not tended to correctly, the chances of necrosis starting is more likely. Necrosis is more severe than other cell deaths in infections because once those cells die they can release chemicals that are harmful or will damage other cells.

There are seven kinds of morphologic patterns of necrosis, and they are 1) gummatous, 2) fibrinoid necrosis, 3) coagulative necrosis, 4) hemorrhagic, 5) caseous necrosis, 6) fatty necrosis, and 7) liquefactive necrosis. Gummatous necrosis is relative only to spirochaetal infections. Fibrinoid necrosis is the result of vascular damage to the immune system. Protein material is deposited in the walls of arteries. Coagulative necrosis occurs only in hypoxic environments. Hemorrhagic necrosis occurs if there is a block in the venous drainage of an organ of the body. Caseous necrosis is a type of coagulation necrosis that is caused by fungus or bacteria.

Fatty necrosis occurs from lipases in fatty tissues. Liquefactive necrosis is related to the destruction of cells and the formation of pus, fungus infections, or a lack of blood to the brain. Necrosis spreads like a chain reaction after an infection, injury, poison, or infarction has affected the body and started to spread. Aside from infections, necrosis can also be derived from an insect venom that starts to degrade skin or muscle tissue at the bite site. Necrosis is very difficult to treat, but treatment is usually achieved through surgical removal and repair, maggot therapy, or removal of affected tissue.