Pathology · Pathology · Medium
Atrophy
Meaning: A wasting away or reduction in size of tissue or organ.
In practice: Muscle atrophy occurs rapidly during prolonged bed rest.
Quick check
Two questions on related pathology words.
Which word means: Having a single chamber; describes the simple bone cyst of childhood.
Answer: Unicameral
Which word means: Germ cell tumour containing tissue from all three embryonic layers, such as hair, fat and teeth.
Answer: Teratoma
Words like atrophy come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.