Abnormal cellular physiology Abnormal apoptosis 2021-05-02T21:53:27Z Any abnormality of programmed cell death (apoptosis), which is defined as the orchestrated collapse of a cell characterized by membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, condensation of chromatin, and fragmentation of DNA followed by rapid engulfment of the corpse by neighboring cells. Apoptosis is distinguished from death by necrosis by the absence of an associated inflammatory response.