The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sphacelus \Sphac"e*lus\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ????.] (Med.) Gangrenous part; gangrene; slough. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
sphacelus n 1: necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass [syn: gangrene, sphacelus, slough] 2: the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply) [syn: necrosis, mortification, gangrene, sphacelus]