gangren-

The death of tissue due to vascular insufficiency without bacterial invasion.

The tissue simply dries up and shrivels.

To produce a gangrene.

1. A necrosis, or death, of tissue or bone, usually resulting from a deficient or absent blood supply to certain body parts, sometimes permitting bacteria to invade them and to accelerate their decay.

The extremities are most often affected, but it can occur in the intestines and gallbladder, too. Internal gangrene may be a complication of strangulated hernia, appendicitis, cholecystitis, or thrombosis of the mesenteric arteries to the intestines.

2. Etymology: gangrene comes from Greek ganggraina, denoting "an eating sore that ends in mortification" or "death" (of the flesh) and subsequently a rotting of the affected parts.

The causes or origins of gangrene

Gangrene is usually caused by obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or tissue, possibly resulting from inflammatory processes, injury, or degenerative changes; such as, arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a disease in which thickening, hardening, and the loss of elasticity of the arterial walls result in impaired blood circulation which develops with aging, and in hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other conditions.

It is commonly a sequela, or a secondary consequence or result, of boils, frostbite, crushing injuries, or diseases; such as, diabetes mellitus (severe, chronic form of diabetes) and Raynaud's disease (a circulatory disorder caused by insufficient blood supply to the hands and feet and resulting in cyanosis, numbness, pain, and, in extreme cases, gangrene).

The part of the body that dies from gangrene is known as a slough (for soft tissues) or a sequestrum (for bone). The dead matter must be removed before healing can take place.

The development of gangrene.

1. Suffering from tissue death.
2. Marked by or of the nature of gangrene.

Gangrenous necrosis of the skin of the thorax and thighs of chickens of one to four months of age caused by Clostridium septicum and other clostridia.

Clostridia refers to any of various rod-shaped, spore-forming, chiefly anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium; such as, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in soil and those causing botulism and tetanus.

Most affected birds die and the mortality rate in a flock may be as high as 60%. Also known as necrotic dermatitis.

The invasion of a deep penetrating wound (in which the blood supply is compromised) by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can survive with little or no oxygen); such as, members of the Clostridium family of bacteria.

The bacteria generate gas and pus. Gas gangrene is an acute, painful, dangerous condition.