The intrinsic pathway, also known as the mitochondrial pathway, is one of the two primary pathways of apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death. This pathway is triggered internally by stress signals such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, or withdrawal of growth factors. It involves a series of molecular events that lead to mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), release of pro-apoptotic factors like cytochrome c, and eventual activation of caspases, the enzymes responsible for cell dismantling.
