cytolysis

1 9.9

Cells break open when something destroys their outer membrane

noun
/saɪˈtɒlɪsɪs/

Specialized

: citólisis

In certain diseases, cytolysis can result in the death of healthy cells.

Examples

The scientist studied cytolysis to understand how toxins can harm living cells.
Cytolysis: The breaking down or loss of cells is called cytolysis.

Academic text (2015)
Cytolysis: The breaking down or loss of cells is called cytolysis.

Academic text (2015)
Cytolysis occurs when the outer membrane of a cell is damaged, leading to cytolysis.

Synonyms

lysis

vscytolysis

Specialized

1 9.3

The breaking open and death of cells that releases their contents

is specifically the disease related breakdown caused by outer membrane destruction

Antonyms

regeneration

Specialized

25 4.7

Growing new body parts or tissue after damage

How Severe

cytolysis

Specialized

1 9.9

injury

∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

cytolysis singular

cytolyses plural

Morphology

cytolysis = lysis (semi-transparent) = cyto + lysis

The meaning is compositionally 'cyto-' (cell) + 'lysis' (breakdown) and is clear in biomedical contexts, but the combining form 'cyto-' is technical and may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Cytolysis comes from Greek parts cyto- meaning 'cell' and -lysis meaning 'breaking', the same -lysis you find in dialysis. So, cytolysis literally means the 'breaking' of cells, which is why it describes the destruction of a cell's outer membrane and the damage that follows.