Word parts
What it means
When tissue is injured again and again, or inflamed for a long time, the body lays down fibrous scar tissue. The scarred organ becomes stiff and works less well. Pulmonary fibrosis stiffens the lungs and makes breathing hard; cirrhosis is fibrosis of the liver; fibrosis can also follow radiation therapy. cystic fibrosisSIS-tik fy-BROH-sisAn inherited disease in which the body makes thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, pancreas and other organs.cyst/o sacfibr/o fiber-osis abnormal conditionFull entry is named for scarring of the pancreas, but is a separate inherited disease.
At a glance
| Spanish | fibrosis |
|---|---|
| Also written | fibrotic |
Related terms
-osis
A word ending that means an abnormal condition or process, or an increase.
cystic fibrosis
An inherited disease in which the body makes thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, pancreas and other organs.
scar
Tough, fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin or tissue after an injury has healed.
fibr/o
A word part that means fiber, or fibrous tissue.