Premature death of cells in living tissue.

• A. Infarct
• B. Ischemia
• C. Stenosis
• D. Necrosis

Answer: (D)

Premature death of cells in living tissue is necrosis. Necrosis describes irreversible cellular death caused by severe injury, toxins, infection, or sustained loss of blood supply, while the surrounding tissue remains there and can elicit inflammatory responses. An infarct is a region of tissue that dies due to an inadequate blood supply—essentially a focal area of necrosis caused by ischemia. Ischemia is the reduction of blood flow to a tissue, which can lead to necrosis if it persists. Stenosis is the narrowing of a vessel, which by itself does not define cell death. Because the term that directly denotes the cellular death occurring prematurely in tissue is necrosis, it is the best fit.