Word parts
What it means
A loss of size in tissue that once grew normally. Muscles shrink from lack of use (bed rest, a cast), nerve damage or poor nutrition. Brain, skin and other organs can also atrophy with age or disease. The opposite, a growth in size of cells, is hypertrophyhy-PER-truh-feeAn increase in the size of an organ or tissue because its cells grow larger.hyper- above, excessive-trophy nourishment, growthFull entry .
For the nurse
Range-of-motion exercises, moving early after surgery and good nutrition help prevent muscle atrophy in clients on bed rest.
At a glance
| Spanish | atrofia |
|---|---|
| Also written | atrophies, atrophied, atrophic |
Easy to confuse with
hypertrophy
An increase in the size of an organ or tissue because its cells grow larger.
Related terms
a-
A word beginning that means without, not or absence of; written an- before a vowel.
range of motion
How far a joint can move in each of its normal directions, and the exercises that move joints through it.
contracture
A lasting shortening and tightening of muscle, tendon, skin or joint tissue that keeps a joint from moving through its full range.
hypertrophy
An increase in the size of an organ or tissue because its cells grow larger.