Final answer:
The suffix -necrosis does mean tissue death. If an autopsy shows red blood cells burst after injecting a saline solution, it indicates the solution was hypotonic, not isotonic. Diseased cells may spread death molecules to healthy cells via gap junctions, causing them to die as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, the suffix -necrosis refers to tissue death. The term necrosis is used in biology and medicine to describe the death of cells or tissues in an organism, typically due to factors like disease, injury, or lack of blood supply. A callus, comprised of dead cells, can provide a protective layer; however, unlike calluses, tissue necrosis is generally harmful because it can spread, leading to more extensive tissue damage and potentially serious health complications.
Regarding question 23, If an autopsy revealed that the patient's red blood cells had burst, then the solution injected could not have been isotonic. Instead, it must have been hypotonic, as a hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration compared to the cells, causing water to enter the cells by osmosis, which can lead to them bursting, or lysing.
In question 24, the death molecule from diseased cells may lead to the death of neighboring healthy cells if the molecule passes through gap junctions. Gap junctions are connections that allow molecules and ions to pass directly between adjacent cells, facilitating communication but also potentially spreading harmful signals.