MedFriendly®
Abscission
Abscission means cutting away. The term is frequently
used in various areas of biology. For example, in the
animal sciences, the term is used to refer to shedding
of body parts, such as the skin of a snake, the fur of a
dog, or the antlers of a deer. In the plant sciences, it
refers to a plant dropping one or more of its parts such
as a leaf, flower, seed, or fruit. In the study of fungi, it
refers to the release of a spore. A spore is a form of
bacteria that is resistant to heat, drying, and chemicals.
In the study of cells, it refers to two the process by
which a cell divides to form two daughter cells.
Abscission zone where a leaf
fell off.
FEATURED BOOK: Biology for Dummies
Daughter cells are cells created from the copy and division of a parent cell.
Technically, the term could be used to refer to the cutting away of abnormal areas
during surgery.
An example would be when a dermatologist (skin doctor) cuts away an atypically
this way.
Abscission comes from the Latin word "ab" meaning "away," and the Latin word "scindo"
meaning "to cut." Put the two words together and you have "to cut away."
"Where Medical Information is Easy to Understand"™
