Apoptosis vs Necrosis MCQ — NEET PG Practice Question | NEETPGAI
Apoptosis vs Necrosis
medium
microscope Pathology
All of the following are characteristic features of apoptosis EXCEPT:
A. Cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing occur early in the process
B. Cell contents are released into the extracellular space causing inflammation
C. Phosphatidylserine is externalized on the cell membrane, marking the cell for phagocytosis
D. DNA fragmentation occurs at internucleosomal sites producing a characteristic 'ladder' pattern on gel electrophoresis
Explanation
Distinguishing Apoptosis from Necrosis
Apoptosis: Key Morphologic Features
Key Point
Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death that does NOT trigger inflammation.
Apoptotic cells exhibit:
1.
Cell shrinkage (pyknosis) — nucleus becomes dense and shrunken
2.
Membrane blebbing — outpouching of the plasma membrane
3.
DNA fragmentation — endonuclease G cleaves DNA between nucleosomes, producing ~180–200 bp fragments
4.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization — normally on inner leaflet, flips to outer surface; recognized by macrophages via PS receptors ("eat me" signal)
5.
Apoptotic body formation — cell breaks into membrane-bound fragments containing organelles and condensed chromatin
6.
No inflammation — contents remain membrane-bound; no leakage into tissue
Why Option 3 is the Answer
Release of cell contents into the extracellular space is a hallmark of necrosis, not apoptosis. In necrosis:
This is why necrotic tissue is surrounded by inflammation; apoptotic tissue is not
Comparison Table
Table
Feature
Apoptosis
Necrosis
Energy requirement
ATP-dependent
ATP-independent
Cell membrane
Intact until late; PS externalized
Early rupture; contents leak
DNA fragmentation
Internucleosomal (ladder pattern)
Random, fragmented
Inflammation
Minimal/absent
Marked
Phagocytosis
Rapid by macrophages
Slow; debris remains
Apoptotic bodies
Formed, membrane-bound
Not formed
High-YieldNEET PG
The absence of inflammation in apoptosis is the key distinguishing feature — it is a "clean" death that does not damage surrounding tissue.
Clinical Pearl
This is why apoptosis is the preferred mode of cell death in development, immune homeostasis, and cancer therapy — it removes cells without collateral damage.
Practice similar questions
Sign up free to access AI-powered MCQ practice with detailed explanations and adaptive learning.
