Sphacelation is a medical term used to describe the process of tissue death or necrosis. Some synonyms for this term include gangrene, necrosis, decay, putrefaction, mortification, and tissue degeneration. Gangrene refers to tissue death caused by reduced blood flow, while necrosis is the death of cells or tissue caused by disease or injury. Decay and putrefaction are terms used to describe the breakdown of tissue due to bacterial activity, while mortification refers to tissue death caused by contaminated wounds. Tissue degeneration, on the other hand, refers to the gradual breakdown of tissue due to aging or disease. These terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the process of tissue death.