One of the mechanisms by which CELL DEATH occurs (compare with NECROSIS and AUTOPHAGOCYTOSIS). 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.

Descriptor ID	D017209
MeSH Number(s)	G04.299.139.160
Concept/Terms	Apoptosis Apoptosis Programmed Cell Death, Type I Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Apoptosis".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Apoptosis".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Apoptosis".