Atrophy Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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atrophy
[ˈætrəfi ]
Definitions
medical condition
Atrophy is the wasting away or decrease in size of a body part or tissue due to disease or lack of use. It can occur in muscles, organs, and other tissues. Atrophy can result from factors like aging, injury, or prolonged disuse.
Synonyms
decline, deterioration, shrinking, wasting.
Examples of usage
- Muscle atrophy can occur when a limb is immobilized.
- The doctor explained how the atrophy of brain tissue affects cognitive function.
- Long periods of inactivity can lead to muscle atrophy.
- Patients recovering from surgery may experience atrophy in the affected area.
biological process
To atrophy means to waste away or decrease in size, often referring to tissues or organs. This process can occur naturally due to aging or may be induced by other factors, such as lack of use or disease.
Synonyms
dwindle, fade, shrink, waste away.
Examples of usage
- When you stop exercising, your muscles may atrophy.
- Without proper usage, the brain can atrophy over time.
- Certain medications can cause organs to atrophy.
- After the injury, the affected muscles began to atrophy.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Health and Medicine
- Atrophy can happen when someone is on bed rest for long periods or has a disability that prevents movement.
- Neurogenic atrophy occurs when nerves that stimulate muscles are damaged, highlighting the connection between nerves and muscle health.
- In elderly individuals, sarcopenia refers to age-related muscle atrophy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining physical activity throughout life.
Psychology
- Skills can atrophy, just like muscles, if not practiced regularly, such as language skills fading without use.
- Atrophy of memory can occur when a person does not engage in mentally stimulating activities, leading to cognitive decline.
- Social skills can also suffer atrophy due to prolonged isolation or lack of social interaction.
Sports and Fitness
- Athletes often focus on strength training to prevent atrophy, ensuring their muscles stay strong and ready for competition.
- Diminished activity levels, such as during the off-season, can lead to noticeable atrophy in competitive sports.
- Rehabilitation programs often incorporate exercises to combat atrophy after surgery or injury.
Literature
- In literature, atrophy is often used metaphorically to discuss the decline of societies or cultures that do not engage in creative or critical discourse.
- Writers sometimes depict characters experiencing emotional atrophy, reflecting a loss of personal growth or development.
- Atrophy of ideas or innovation can be a theme in dystopian novels, representing stagnation in human progress.
Origin of 'atrophy'
Main points about word origin
- This word comes from the Greek words 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'trophe' meaning 'nourishment'.
- It has been in English since the early 19th century, originally used in medical contexts.
- Related forms include 'muscle atrophy', which specifically refers to muscle wasting.
The term 'atrophy' originates from the Greek word 'atrophia', which means 'without nourishment'. It combines two elements: 'a-', a prefix meaning 'without', and 'trophia', derived from 'trophe', meaning 'nourishment' or 'food'. The term first appeared in English in the late 16th century, adopted from the medical context in Greek and Latin. Atrophy is used in medical jargon to describe the reduction in size and function of a tissue or organ. The concept has expanded into various fields, including sports, exercise, and rehabilitation, to explain the physiological and biological deterioration resulting from disuse or disease.