Apoptosis involves a series of signaling pathways that can be triggered by both internal and external stimuli. Key players in this process include caspases, a family of protease enzymes that catalyze the dismantling of cellular components, and mitochondria, which release pro-apoptotic factors like cytochrome c. The process is generally divided into two main pathways: the intrinsic (or mitochondrial) pathway and the extrinsic (or death receptor) pathway.
