Pathology · Multiple Systems · Medium

Hypoplasia

Meaning: Incomplete or underdeveloped growth of an organ or tissue, leaving it smaller than normal.

In practice: The scan showed hypoplasia of the left kidney, which had formed smaller than the right.

Word parts

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Two questions on related pathology words.

Which word means: Slow-growing neuroendocrine tumour, often in the gut, that can secrete serotonin.

Which word means: Shrinkage and darkening of a cell nucleus as chromatin condenses, an early sign of cell death.

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