AUTOLYSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Autolysis can be defined as a natural biological process that occurs in the cells and tissues of living organisms after death or injury, resulting in the breakdown and degradation of cellular components by the body's own enzymes. This self-digestion process takes place when the cell membrane integrity is compromised, leading to the release of enzymes into the cytoplasm.
During autolysis, the released enzymes, particularly lysosomes, start to break down various molecules and organelles within the cell, such as proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids. These lysosomal enzymes, including proteases, nucleases, and lipases, play a crucial role in the degradation of cellular components, ultimately leading to the disintegration of the cell. The broken-down molecules are then recycled, providing building blocks for the synthesis of new cellular materials or energy production.
Autolysis plays a significant role in the field of medicine and forensics. In medicine, autolysis is implicated in various pathological conditions and diseases, such as tissue damage, necrosis, and cancer. Forensically, the process of autolysis is used to estimate the time since death, as the extent of cellular breakdown can indicate the post-mortem interval.
Overall, autolysis is a natural cellular process of self-digestion that occurs after death or injury, involving the release and activation of enzymes that break down cellular components into smaller molecules which can then be recycled or used for other purposes.
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1. Self-digestion; dissolution of cells by products of their own secretion. 2. Removal of worn-out or necrotic tissues and cells by solution with an intracellular ferment. 3. Spontaneous post-mortem dissolution of organs and tissues which have not undergone decomposition.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUTOLYSIS
Etymology of AUTOLYSIS
The word "autolysis" derives from the combination of two Greek roots:
1. "Auto-" (αὐτός): This prefix in Greek means "self" or "own". It comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂éwos, which also gave rise to similar words like "autonomous" or "autobiography".
2. "-Lysis" (λύσις): This suffix in Greek means "loosening", "dissolution", or "destruction". It comes from the verb λύω (lyo), which means "I loose" or "I release". Words like "analysis" or "paralysis" also feature this suffix.
Similar spelling words for AUTOLYSIS
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