___ is defined as the death and disintegration of cells and tissue
Necrosis, death of a circumscribed area of plant or animal tissue as a result of an outside agent; natural death of tissue is called necrobiosis. Necrosis may follow a wide variety of injuries, both physical (cuts, burns, bruises) and biological (effects of disease-causing agents). The sign of necrosisâdead tissueâis called a lesion; it is often of diagnostic value.