Death and decay of body tissue due to insufficient blood supply, often accompanied by bacterial infection. It typically affects extremities and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
From Greek 'gangraina' meaning 'eating sore,' which perfectly captures how gangrene seems to 'eat away' at tissue. The word entered medical Latin and then Old French before reaching English in the 16th century.
Gangrene is necrosis with a nasty attitude - not only does the tissue die, but bacteria move in like squatters and start a decomposition party! This is why gangrene often has that characteristic foul smell and why amputation is sometimes necessary to save the rest of the body.
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