atrophy
[at´ro-fe] 1. decrease in size of a normally developed organ or tissue; see also
wasting.
2. to undergo or cause such a decrease. adj., adj atroph´ic.
disuse atrophy atrophy of a tissue or organ as a result of inactivity or diminished function.
gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina a rare hereditary, slowly progressive atrophy of the choroid and pigment epithelium of the retina; inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
myelopathic muscular atrophy muscular atrophy due to lesion of the spinal cord, as in spinal muscular atrophy.
olivopontocerebellar atrophy any of a group of progressive hereditary disorders involving degeneration of the cerebellar cortex, middle peduncles, ventral pontine surface, and olivary nuclei. They occur in the young to middle-aged and are characterized by ataxia, dysarthria, and tremors similar to those of parkinsonism.
senile atrophy the natural atrophy of tissues and organs occurring with advancing age.
spinal muscular atrophy progressive degeneration of the motor cells of the spinal cord, beginning usually in the small muscles of the hands, but in some cases (scapulohumeral type) in the upper arm and shoulder muscles, and progressing slowly to the leg muscles. Called also
Aran-Duchenne disease,
Cruveilhier's disease, and
Duchenne's disease.
subacute yellow atrophy submassive necrosis of the liver associated with broad zones of necrosis, due to viral, toxic, or drug-induced hepatitis; it may have an acute course with death from liver failure occurring after several weeks, or clinical recovery may be associated with regeneration of the parenchymal cells.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
a·my·o·tro·phic lat·er·al scle·ro·sis (ALS),
a fatal degenerative disease involving the corticobulbar, corticospinal, and spinal motor neurons, manifested by progressive weakness and wasting of muscles innervated by the affected neurons; fasciculations and cramps commonly occur. The disorder is 90-95% sporadic in nature (although a number of cases are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait [MIM*105400]), affects adults (typically, older adults), and usually is fatal within 2-5 years of onset. It is in the most common subgroup of motor neuron diseases, and the only one manifested by a combination of upper and lower abnormalities. Variants include: progressive bulbar palsy, in which isolated or predominant lower brainstem motor involvement occurs; primary lateral sclerosis, in which only upper motor neuron abnormalities are seen; and progressive spinal muscle atrophy, in which only lower motor neuron dysfunction is noted. See also entries under Henry Louis Gehrig
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Duchenne,
Guillaume B.A., French neurologist, 1806-1875. Duchenne attitude - paralysis of trapezius resulting in shoulder lowering on external rotation.
Duchenne dystrophy - the most common childhood muscular dystrophy, with onset usually before age 6. Synonym(s):
childhood muscular dystrophy;
Duchenne disease (1);
Duchenne-Griesinger disease;
pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy Duchenne-Erb paralysis - Synonym(s):
Erb palsy Duchenne-Erb syndrome - Synonym(s):
Erb palsy Duchenne paralysis - brachial birth palsy in which there is paralysis of upper arm and shoulder girdle muscles due to lesion of upper trunk of brachial plexus or roots of fifth and sixth cervical roots.
Duchenne sign - falling in of the epigastrium during inspiration in paralysis of the diaphragm.
Duchenne syndrome - subacute or chronic anterior spinal paralysis combined with multiple neuritis.
Erb-Duchenne paralysis - Synonym(s):
Erb palsy
Aran,
François, French physician, 1817-1861.
Gehrig,
Henry Louis, U.S. baseball player for the New York Yankees, 1903-1941, victim of Lou Gehrig disease. Lou Gehrig disease - a disease of the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord, causing progressive muscular atrophy. Synonym(s): amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Aran-Duchenne disease; Aran-Duchenne dystrophy; Charcot disease; Cruveilhier disease; Cruveilhier palsy; Duchenne-Aran disease
Medical Eponyms © Farlex 2012