Liquefactive necrosis, unlike coagulative necrosis, is the predominant pattern of necrosis in the brain because:

• A The brain has a rich blood supply that brings abundant neutrophils to liquefy the tissue
• B Neurons lack the structural proteins needed for coagulative necrosis
• C Myelin produces glycoproteins that activate proteolytic cascades preferentially
• D The brain has high lipid content and abundant hydrolytic enzymes in cells that self-digest rapidly ✓

Explanation

Liquefactive necrosis in the brain results from the high lipid content of neural tissue and the abundance of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes in neurons and glia, which enable rapid autolysis without structural protein coagulation. Additionally, the brain's rich lipid milieu does not support the protein denaturation seen in coagulative necrosis. Neutrophil infiltration also contributes in bacterial infections. Coagulative necrosis, seen elsewhere, results from protein denaturation preserving cell ghost outlines.

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

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.