What term describes the process of tissue decay due to lack of blood supply or infection?

The process of tissue decay due to lack of blood supply or infection is best described by the term necrosis. Necrosis refers to the death of cells or tissues as a result of injury or disease, leading to their decay. This can occur when blood supply is cut off (as in the case of an infarction) or due to an infection that compromises the integrity of the tissues. The key aspect of necrosis is that it involves irreversible cell damage and the subsequent decay of affected tissues.

While other terms may relate to tissue damage, they do not fully encapsulate the concept of tissue decay as necrosis does. Infarction specifically describes tissue death due to lack of blood supply, often resulting from a blocked artery, but does not inherently imply tissue decay. Ischemia refers to insufficient blood flow to tissues, which can eventually lead to necrosis, but it does not describe the decay itself. Degeneration is a broader term that encompasses various forms of tissue deterioration but doesn't address the specific mechanisms of decay due to blood supply deficiency or infection. Therefore, necrosis is the most accurate term for describing the process of tissue decay in this context.