Which condition is death of tissue due to loss of blood supply?

• A. Gangrene
• B. Osteomyelitis
• C. Paresthesias
• D. Dorsal

Answer: (A)

Tissue death due to loss of blood supply is gangrene. When blood flow is inadequate, cells don’t get enough oxygen and nutrients and begin to die, leading to tissue necrosis. Gangrene can be dry, from chronic poor perfusion, or wet/gas when infection and gas production accelerate the destruction. In the foot, diabetes and vascular disease raise the risk for gangrene.

Osteomyelitis is an infection of bone, not simply tissue death from reduced blood flow. Paresthesias are abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness, not tissue necrosis. Dorsal is an anatomical term describing the back or upper surface of a structure, not a disease or condition.