What is the term for the premature death of cells and living tissue due to trauma or damage?

The term for the premature death of cells and living tissue due to trauma or damage is necrosis. This process occurs when cells are killed by external factors such as injury, infection, or lack of blood flow, leading to the uncontrolled death of tissue. In necrosis, the normal regulatory processes of cell death are disrupted, resulting in inflammation, and the affected tissue may ultimately become non-functional.

Understanding necrosis is crucial as it can lead to serious complications, including tissue loss and organ failure, depending on the extent and location of the damage. This condition is distinct from apoptosis, which is a programmed and controlled form of cell death that facilitates normal cellular turnover and removal of damaged or unnecessary cells without causing inflammation.

Additionally, inflammation refers to the body's response to injury or infection and involves immune response rather than a direct term for cell death. Ischemia is related to a lack of blood flow to tissues, leading to potential cell death but is not synonymous with the process of cell death itself.