necrotic cell death A form of cell death that is distinct from apoptosis. Cells undergoing necrotic cell death undergo overall destruction. They can be distinguished from apoptotic cells because they lose membrane integrity, which only happens late in apoptosis (positive propidium iodide staining), and do not externalize phosphatidylserine (measured by annexin V staining) as do apoptotic cells. APO:0000220 YPO:0000220 observable cell death