atrophy
(a'trŏ-fē 
)
[[1]an- + -trophy]
- A decrease in size of an organ or tissue; wasting. Atrophy may result from death and resorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, pressure, ischemia, malnutrition, decreased activity, or hormonal changes.
- To degenerate; lose size, strength, or vitality.
atrophic,
(ā‵trō'fik
adj., ā‵trof'ik)
brown a.Atrophic tissue that is yellowish-brown rather than its normal color. It is seen principally in the heart and liver of older people. The pigmentation is due to the presence of lipofuscin, the “wear and tear” pigment that may be associated with aging. Its presence in tissue is a sign of injury from free radicals.
SEE: lipofuscin; free radical.
compression a.Atrophy of a body part due to constant pressure.
cortical a.Degeneration and loss of volume of neurons in the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain).
denervation a.Atrophy caused by inhibition of a motor nerve.
dentatorubral-pallidoluysian a.
ABBR: DRPLA
A rare autosomal dominant neurogenerative disorder (one of the spinocerebral ataxias), most often identified in people of Japanese ancestry, and caused by duplications of the C-A-G nucleotide sequence in DNA. Symptoms include choreiform movements, progressive dementia, myoclonus, recurrent seizures, and unsteady gait.disuse a.Partial or complete atrophy from immobilization or failure to move a body part.
geographic a.In ophthalmology, atrophy in the central retina. Such atrophy is the final stage of age-related macular degeneration and produces loss of central visual acuity.
group a.A change in the appearance of muscle fibers that have lost their nerve supply. It is marked by an increase in the size of the motor unit and a decrease in the fibers within to a uniformly small size.
hippocampal a.Degeneration and loss of volume in the part of the brain responsible for encoding new, recent memories. It can occur in Alzheimer disease, mild cognitive impairment, chronic alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions.
microvillous a.Microvillus inclusion disease.
multiple system a.A neurological syndrome marked by Parkinson disease, autonomic failure (loss of sweating, urinary incontinence, dizziness or syncope on arising, miosis), and ataxia.
muscular a.Atrophy of muscle tissue, esp. due to lack of use or denervation.
myotonic a.Myotonia congenita.
olivopontocerebellar a.Atrophy characterized by degeneration of neurons in the cerebellum, pons, and inferior olives of the brain, typically resulting in ataxia. It is considered to be a form of multiple systems atrophy with primarily cerebellar features.
optic a.Atrophy of the optic disk as a result of degeneration of the optic nerve.
pathological a.Atrophy that results from the effects of disease processes.
peroneal muscular a.Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
physiological a.Atrophy caused by the normal aging processes in the body. Examples are atrophy of embryonic structures; atrophy of childhood structures on reaching maturity, such as the thymus; atrophy of structures in cyclic phases of activity, such as the corpus luteum; atrophy of structures following cessation of functional activity, such as the ovary and mammary gland s; and atrophy of structures with aging.
postmenopausal vaginal a.Drying and shrinking of the vaginal tissues, related to the hormonal changes associated with menopause. Menopausal women who continue to engage in sexual intercourse during and following menopause have less vaginal atrophy than do those women who become sexually inactive.
SEE: hormone replacement therapy.
ABBR: PPMA
Postpolio syndrome.progressive hemifacial a.A rare disorder usually affecting females, in which cheek tissues on one side of the face gradually waste or deteriorate. There is no treatment. The disease is often associated with local hair loss and may be accompanied by seizures or trigeminal neuralgia. The progression usually lasts between 2 and 10 years but then enters a stable phase, at which time cosmetic surgery may be possible. SYN: Parry-Romberg syndrome.
progressive muscular a.Spinal muscular atrophy.
spinal muscular a.An autosomal recessive disorder in which motor neurons in the spinal cord die, leading to muscle paralysis of the arms, legs, and trunk, and of muscles that control swallowing and breathing. There are three types. Type 1 usually is fatal by age 4; the cause of death is respiratory paralysis. Types 2 and 3 are slower to progress. Treatments aim to prevent nutritional deficiencies, orthopedic deformities, and respiratory infections. SYN: Aran-Duchenne disease; progressive muscular atrophy; Werdnig-Hoffmann disease; wasting palsy; wasting paralysis.
unilateral facial a.Progressive atrophy of one side of the facial tissues.
urogenital a.Atrophic vaginitis.
vulvovaginal a.Thinning of the labia minora and the vaginal epithelium caused by reduced estrogen levels in menopausal women. It causes vaginal dryness, burning, and itch; pain during intercourse; and urinary tract symptoms.