self-digestion
Eating oneself internally
Self-digestion is the breakdown of cells or tissues by their own enzymes.
In biology, it describes what happens when digestive enzymes leak from their normal compartments and begin dissolving surrounding tissue—as when the pancreas digests itself during severe pancreatitis.
The technical term is autolysis.
Figuratively, self-digestion can describe any system that consumes or destroys itself from within.
Cellular self-degradation process
- lysosomeDigestive organelle in cells
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- cell deathCessation of cellular life
- proteolysisEnzymatic protein breakdown
apoptosis · recycling · cytoplasm · enzyme · vacuole · metabolic · homeostasis · intracellular
Cell's enzymatic self-destruction
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- cadaverBody for dissection
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
death · mortuary · decay · liquefaction · necrosis · corpse · embalming · preservation
Swollen digestive gland
- gastric ulcerStomach lining wound
- pepsinGastric protein-cleaving enzyme
- organ damageHarm to internal body parts
- inflammationProtective tissue response
peritonitis · necrotic · hemorrhagic · erosive · perforation · acute · chronic · bicarbonate
autophagy
Cellular self-degradation process
- lysosomeDigestive organelle in cells
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- cell deathCessation of cellular life
proteolysis · apoptosis · recycling · cytoplasm · enzyme · vacuole · metabolic · homeostasis · intracellular
autolysis
Cell's enzymatic self-destruction
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- cadaverBody for dissection
forensic · death · mortuary · decay · liquefaction · necrosis · corpse · embalming · preservation · stomach lining
pancreatitis
Swollen digestive gland
- gastric ulcerStomach lining wound
- pepsinGastric protein-cleaving enzyme
- organ damageHarm to internal body parts
inflammation · peritonitis · necrotic · hemorrhagic · erosive · perforation · acute · chronic · bicarbonate
self-digestionbiosynthesis
Living production of molecules
anabolism · protein synthesis · regeneration · self-assembly · growth
self-digestionself-preservation
Instinct to survive danger
homeostasis · proliferation · cell division · regeneration · self-repair
self, digest, digestion, digestive, digested, digesting, digestible, indigestible, indigestion