The splitting or rupturing of red blood cells, causing the cell to fragment into pieces.
From Greek erythro- (red) + cyto- (cell) + -rrhexis (rupture or bursting). The -rrhexis suffix comes from rhexis meaning 'breaking' and appears in medical terms describing ruptures or explosive breakings of tissues.
Erythrocytorrhexis is an even more violent form of red blood cell destruction than simple lysis—the cells don't just burst, they actually fragment into sharp pieces that can damage other cells. This happens in severe burn victims whose damaged cells rupture from osmotic stress.
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