Liquefactive necrosis (as opposed to coagulation necrosis) is the characteristic pattern in brain infarcts. Which feature of the brain tissue BEST explains this susceptibility to liquefactive necrosis?

• A High lipid content and abundant hydrolytic enzymes from activated microglia/macrophages liquefy tissue ✓
• B Absence of fibrous stroma prevents physical preservation of tissue architecture
• C High water content creates osmotic swelling that disperses the necrotic tissue
• D Brain-specific caspases (caspase-7, caspase-9) mediate rapid self-digestion of neurons

Explanation

Liquefactive necrosis in the brain results from two main factors: the brain's high lipid (myelin) content makes it susceptible to lipase and phospholipase-mediated dissolution, and activated microglia and recruited macrophages release abundant lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes (proteases, lipases) that digest the necrotic tissue into fluid. Other tissues that undergo coagulation necrosis have sufficient structural proteins to preserve their shape.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.