self digestion
/ˌsɛlfdɪˈdʒɛstʃən/
noun
- The process by which an organism's own enzymes break down its tissues, often after death or in certain diseases.
- Scientists study self-digestion in plants to understand how leaves decompose.
- In some medical conditions, self-digestion of the pancreas can cause severe pain.
- After death, self-digestion begins as enzymes in the cells start breaking down the body.
Synonyms