Apoptosis is a more orderly process of cell death. Apoptosis is individual cell necrosis, not simultaneous localized necrosis of large numbers of cells. In this example, hepatocytes are dying individually (arrows) from injury through infection by viral hepatitis. The apoptotic cells are enlarged, pink from loss of cytoplasmic detail, and without nuclei. The cell nucleus and cytoplasm become fragmented as enzymes such as caspases destroy cellular components. |