atrophy
Wither from disuse
Atrophy is the wasting away or decrease in size of body tissue, an organ, or the body as a whole, typically from disuse, disease, or inadequate nourishment.
Muscles atrophy when they aren't exercised; the brain can atrophy with age.
The word extends beyond biology to describe any gradual decline or deterioration: Their friendship atrophied after years of neglect.
Both noun and verb forms are common: tissue undergoes atrophy, or it atrophies.
Using poorly, inefficiently
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- disuseCessation of practice
- immobilityLack of motion
- weaknessDeficiency in force
debilitation · emaciation · thinning · cachexia · myopathy · quadriceps · deltoid · bicep
Process of declining quality
- diminutionReduction in size
- dwindlingProgressively becoming smaller
- reductionMaking something smaller
- contractionReduction in size
decay · withering · shrinking · regression · erosion · fading · waning · weakening
Cessation of practice
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- inactivityLack of movement
- idlenessState of doing nothing
- dormancySuspended biological activity
dereliction · inattention · languishing · fallow · unused · untrained · sedentary · rust
Progressive loss of function
- necrosisLocalized cell death
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
- sclerosisMorbid tissue hardening
autophagy · senescence · pathology · histology · biopsy · microscopy · lesion
Motor neuron disease
- poliomyelitisParalysis-causing viral infection
- Charcot-Marie-ToothInherited motor-sensory neuropathy
- Guillain-BarréAutoimmune peripheral neuropathy
- neuromuscularNerve-to-muscle signaling
neurodegeneration · neuropathy · demyelination · diagnosis · prognosis · progressive · hereditary · autoimmune
Learned competencies
- talentInborn aptitude
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- intellectMental reasoning capacity
- memoryMind's retention capacity
relationships · community · institution · democracy · economy · culture · tradition · spirit
wasting
Using poorly, inefficiently
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- disuseCessation of practice
- immobilityLack of motion
weakness · debilitation · emaciation · thinning · cachexia · myopathy · quadriceps · deltoid · bicep · contracture
deterioration
Process of declining quality
- diminutionReduction in size
- dwindlingProgressively becoming smaller
- reductionMaking something smaller
contraction · decay · withering · shrinking · regression · erosion · fading · waning · weakening · degradation
disuse
Cessation of practice
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- inactivityLack of movement
- idlenessState of doing nothing
dormancy · dereliction · inattention · languishing · fallow · unused · untrained · sedentary · rust · stagnation
degeneration
Progressive loss of function
- necrosisLocalized cell death
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
sclerosis · autophagy · senescence · pathology · histology · biopsy · microscopy · lesion
ALS
Motor neuron disease
- poliomyelitisParalysis-causing viral infection
- Charcot-Marie-ToothInherited motor-sensory neuropathy
- Guillain-BarréAutoimmune peripheral neuropathy
neuromuscular · neurodegeneration · neuropathy · demyelination · diagnosis · prognosis · progressive · hereditary · autoimmune · paralysis
skills
Learned competencies
- talentInborn aptitude
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- intellectMental reasoning capacity
memory · relationships · community · institution · democracy · economy · culture · tradition · spirit · ambition
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- ailmentsache, aches, ailment, cold, flu
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- declinesdrop, decline, downtrend, downturn, downfall
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, corrode
- Deteriorationdecay, rot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion
atrophyhypertrophy
Tissue enlargement via cells
growth · strengthen · strengthening · develop · muscle growth
atrophyflourish
To grow vigorously
thrive · prosper · bloom · strengthen · strengthening
- muscle atrophyShrinkage from disuse
- atrophic gastritisChronic stomach lining degeneration