atrophy
- atrophy
n.
the wasting away of a normally developed organ or tissue due to degeneration of cells. This may be physiological or pathological. Physiological atrophy occurs during embryonic life and the neonatal period (web spaces, notochord, umbilical vessels), in adolescence (the thymus), in adult life (the corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle), and in a variety of organs and tissues in old age. Pathological atrophy may occur through starvation, disuse, denervation, abnormal hormonal stimulation, lack of hormonal stimulation, or ischaemia. Muscular atrophy is associated with various diseases, such as poliomyelitis.
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atrophy — [a′trə fē] n. [< LL atrophia < Gr, a wasting away < a , not + trephein, to feed: see TROPHIC] a wasting away, esp. of body tissue, an organ, etc., or the failure of an organ or part to grow or develop, as because of insufficient… … English World dictionary
Atrophy — At ro*phy, n. [L. atrophia, Gr. ?; a priv. + ? to nourish: cf. F. atrophie.] A wasting away from lack of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — At ro*phy, v. t. [p. p. {Atrophied}.] To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — At ro*phy, v. i. To waste away; to dwindle. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Thrash Metal Gründung 1986 Website … Deutsch Wikipedia
atrophy — index decay, decline, degenerate, depreciate, deteriorate, deterioration, detriment, dissolution (dis … Law dictionary
atrophy — [n] wasting away, disintegration decline, degeneracy, degeneration, deterioration, diminution, downfall, downgrade; concepts 674,698 … New thesaurus
atrophy — ► VERB (atrophies, atrophied) 1) (of body tissue or an organ) waste away. 2) gradually become less effective or vigorous. ► NOUN ▪ the condition or process of atrophying. DERIVATIVES atrophic adjective … English terms dictionary
atrophy — atrophic /euh trof ik, euh troh fik/, adj. /a treuh fee/, n., v., atrophied, atrophying. n. 1. Also, atrophia /euh troh fee euh/. Pathol. a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage. 2.… … Universalium
Atrophy — For the American thrash metal band, see Atrophy (band) Atrophy Classification and external resources Mice with spinal muscular atrophy MeSH … Wikipedia
Atrophy — Wasting away or diminution. Muscle atrophy is wasting of muscle, decrease in muscle mass. A nerve can also show atrophy. For example, atrophy of the optic nerve diminishes vision. * * * A wasting of tissues, organs, or the entire body, as from… … Medical dictionary
