MUSCLE ATROPHY Meaning and
Definition
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Muscle atrophy is a medical term that refers to the gradual decrease in muscle mass or size due to a variety of factors. It is the opposite of muscle hypertrophy, which refers to the increase in muscle mass. Muscle atrophy can occur for many reasons, including lack of physical activity or prolonged immobilization, certain medical conditions, aging, or nerve damage.
When muscle atrophy occurs, the muscle fibers become smaller and weaker, resulting in decreased strength, endurance, and overall function. This can have a significant impact on a person's ability to perform daily tasks and normal activities. The affected muscles can appear thinner, and there may be a noticeable loss of muscle tone.
Muscle atrophy can affect any muscle in the body, but it is commonly observed in the limbs, particularly the legs and arms, as well as the back and abdomen. It can lead to muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and difficulty with movements such as walking, lifting objects, or standing up from a seated position.
Treatment for muscle atrophy depends on the underlying cause and may include physical therapy, exercise programs, dietary changes, medications, or surgery. In some cases, muscle atrophy may be irreversible, especially if caused by advanced age or certain medical conditions. Thus, prevention and early intervention are crucial in managing and minimizing the impact of muscle atrophy on an individual's overall health and well-being.
Common Misspellings for MUSCLE ATROPHY
- nuscle atrophy
- kuscle atrophy
- juscle atrophy
- myscle atrophy
- mhscle atrophy
- mjscle atrophy
- miscle atrophy
- m8scle atrophy
- m7scle atrophy
- muacle atrophy
- muzcle atrophy
- muxcle atrophy
- mudcle atrophy
- muecle atrophy
- muwcle atrophy
- musxle atrophy
- musvle atrophy
- musfle atrophy
- musdle atrophy
- muscke atrophy
Etymology of MUSCLE ATROPHY
The term "muscle atrophy" is derived from two different sources.
The word "muscle" originates from the Latin term "musculus", which means "little mouse". This term was used due to the resemblance of flexed muscles to small moving mice. Over time, "musculus" evolved into "muscle" in English.
The word "atrophy" comes from the Greek term "atrophos", which means "without nourishment" or "wasting away". This term is a combination of "a-" (meaning "without") and "trophe" (meaning "nourishment" or "food"). In medicine, "atrophy" specifically refers to the condition where tissues or organs waste away or decrease in size.
