Gangrene
a tendency to death or mortification, but stopping short of the complete process. It may affect an organ, such as the lung, but this is rare, or the soft tissues, which is common, particularly of the foot, especially in the aged, as senile gangrene. When part remains alive it is gangrene, when it is completely dead sphacelus. So in bone, caries and necrosis occur, the first as gangrene or incomplete, the second as sphacelus of complete death. Degeneration differs from gangrene in not becoming isolated or putrid, but, if not absorbed, remaining in continuity with surrounding parts. Gangrene of soft parts is usually termed sloughing.
Necramia, or death of the blood, and sequestrum, or a dead piece of bone, are examples of gangrenous lesions.