karyorrhexis

In the final step of this pathway the nucleus is dissolved into the cytoplasm, which is referred to as karyorrhexis.

The nuclear envelope becomes discontinuous and the DNA inside it is fragmented in a process referred to as karyorrhexis.

The pyknosis and karyorrhexis give a "buckshot" appearance to the tissue and are considered pathognomonic for the disease.

Karyorrhexis follows on from the process of pyknosis, and involves the shrunken nucleus proceeding to fragmentation until the nucleus completely disappears.

There are three different ways in which the DNA can be broken down, which are; karyolysis, pyknosis and karyorrhexis.

Also, ballooned cells have (small) pyknotic nuclei or nuclei that are undergoing karyorrhexis, i.e. in the process of disintegrating.

It is usually preceded by karyorrhexis and occurs mainly as a result of necrosis, while in apoptosis after karyorrhexis the nucleus usually dissolves into apoptotic bodies.