Fibrotic: meaning, definitions and examples

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fibrotic

 

[ faiˈbrɒtɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical condition

Fibrotic refers to the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue, often as a response to injury or inflammation. This can lead to stiffness and dysfunction in the affected areas, potentially impacting overall health.

Synonyms

fibrous, hardened, scarred.

Examples of usage

  • The patient's lung showed signs of fibrotic changes.
  • Fibrotic tissue can impede normal organ function.
  • Excessive fibrotic development may result from chronic disease.

Etymology

The term 'fibrotic' originates from the word 'fibrosis,' which is derived from the Greek word 'fibra' meaning 'fiber.' The suffix '-otic' is used in medical terminology to denote a condition or process. Fibrosis typically denotes the process of thickening and scarring of connective tissue, often resulting from injury or chronic inflammation. The study of fibrotic conditions has significantly increased in the medical field due to their association with various diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. As the understanding of these conditions has developed, so has the terminology used to describe them, leading to the use of 'fibrotic' in clinical diagnoses and literature.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,927, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.