What is "necrobiosis"

Necrobiosis \Nec`ro*bi*o"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. nekro`s dead + ? way of life, fr. ? life.] (Biol. & Med.) The death of a part of an organism by molecular disintegration and without loss of continuity, as in the processes of degeneration and atrophy; a normal dying out of cells in a tissue, in contrast to necrosis.
--Virchow.

n. (context pathology English) The normal death of cells or tissues because of age-related changes.

n. (physiology) the normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells) [syn: cell death]

Necrobiosis is the physiological death of a cell, and can be caused by conditions such as basophilia, erythema, or a tumor. It is identified both with and without necrosis.

It is associated with necrobiosis lipoidica and granuloma annulare.

Necrobiosis differs from apoptosis, which kills a damaged cell to protect the body from harm.