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atrophy |
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atrophy (ăt`rəfē), diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, or organ from its fully developed normal size. Temporary atrophy may occur in muscles that are not used, as when a limb is encased in a plaster cast. Interference with cellular nutrition, as through starvation; diseases affecting the nerve supply of tissues, e.g., poliomyelitis and muscular dystrophy; and prolonged disuse may cause a permanent wasting away of tissue. Atrophy may also follow hypertrophy hypertrophy (hīpûr`trəfē) ..... Click the link for more information. . atrophyDecrease from previous normal size of the body or a part, cell, organ, or tissue. An organ or body part's cells may be reduced in number, size or both. Atrophy of some cells and organs is normal at certain points in the life cycle. Other causes include malnutrition, disease, disuse, injury, and hormone over- or underproduction. atrophy a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc. atrophy [′a·trə·fē] (medicine) Diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, or organ that was once fully developed and of normal size. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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The skeletal muscles of patients with CHF have been observed to have a decrease in the average diameters of the type I and type II fibers, selective atrophy of type II fibers, pronounced nonselective myopathy and hypotrophy of type I fibers, increased intracellular acid phosphatase activity, and increased intracellular lipid accumulation. [6,7] If an imbalance in the active medial and lateral forces exerted by the VMO and VL is responsible for initiating or perpetuating PFPS, the underlying mechanism for this active force imbalance could be morphological (eg, hypotrophy of the VMO relative to the VL) or functional (eg, inadequate neural drive to the VMO relative to the VL). |
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