Karyorrhexis (from
Greek κάρυον
karyon, "kernel, seed or nucleus", and ῥῆξις
rhexis, "bursting") is the destructive fragmentation of the
nucleus of a dying
cell whereby its chromatin is distributed irregularly throughout the cytoplasm. It is usually preceded by
pyknosis and can occur as a result of either
programmed cell death (apoptosis), senescence, or
necrosis.