Final answer:
A cell usually dies by necrosis when it is acutely injured. Necrosis is an unregulated form of cell death due to acute injury, whereas apoptosis is a regulated form of cell death that is part of normal development and homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a cell is acutely injured, it usually dies by the process of necrosis. Necrosis is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Apoptosis, on the other hand, is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms, characterized by a series of predictable steps that lead to cell death in a regulated and cleanly manner. It's essential to distinguish between necrosis and apoptosis because while necrosis is often a result of acute damage and follows a rapid loss of the membrane's integrity, apoptosis is a controlled and regulated process that can be part of normal development. Phagocytosis and endocytosis are processes involved in the uptake of materials by cells, but they are not typically forms of cell death.