Karyorrhexis

Morphological characteristics of pyknosis and other forms of nuclear destruction

Apoptosis

Karyorrhexis (Greek karyon = "kernel, seed or nucleus", and rhexis- = "bursting") is the destructive fragmentation of the nucleus of a dying cell whereby its chromatin is distributed irregularly throughout the cytoplasm. It is usually preceded by pyknosis and is followed by karyolysis and can occur as a result of either programmed cell death or necrosis.

See also

• Apoptosis
• Karyolysis