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involution
(redirected from Involutary function)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
involution /in·vo·lu·tion/ (in″vo-loo´shun)
1. a rolling or turning inward.
2. a retrograde change of the body or of an organ, as the retrograde changes in size of the female genital organs after delivery.
3. the progressive degeneration occurring naturally with age, resulting in shriveling of organs or tissues.involu´tional

in·vo·lu·tion (nv-lshn)
n.
1. A decrease in size of an organ, as of the uterus following childbirth.
2. The ingrowth and curling inward of a group of cells, as in the formation of a gastrula from a blastula.
3. A progressive decline or degeneration of normal physiological functioning occurring as a result of the aging process. Also called catagenesis.

invo·lution·al adj.

involution
[in′vəlo̅o̅′shən]
Etymology: L, involvere, to wrap up
1 a normal process of turning or rolling inward characterized by a decrease in the size of an organ caused by a decrease in the size of its cells, such as postpartum involution of the uterus.
2 (in embryology) a developmental process in which a group of cells grows over the rim at the border of the organ or part and, rolling inward, rejoins the organ or part to form a tube, such as in the heart or bladder.

involution [in″vo-lu´shun]
1. a rolling or turning inward.
2. one of the movements involved in the gastrulation of many animals.
3. a retrograde change of the entire body or in a particular organ, as the retrograde changes in the female genital organs that result in normal size after delivery.
4. the progressive degeneration occurring naturally with advancing age, resulting in shriveling of organs or tissues. adj., adj involu´tional.
Involution of the uterus. Height of the uterine fundus decreases by approximately 1 cm/day. From McKinney et al., 2000.

involution
1. a rolling or turning inward.
2. one of the movements involved in the gastrulation of many animals.
3. a retrograde change of the entire body or in a particular organ, as the retrograde changes in the female genital organs that result in normal size after delivery.
4. the progressive degeneration occurring naturally with advancing age, resulting in shriveling of organs or tissues.

uterine involution
reduction in size of the uterus in the period immediately after parturition.

involution
Gynecology See Uterine involvement Medtalk A ↓in organ size or functional capacity, generally understood to be age-related.


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