Atrophy

Atrophy is a pathological process in which a decrease in the mass of an organ or tissue occurs. Atrophic changes in tissues can be both physiological (for example, atrophy of the gastric mucosa after prolonged fasting) and pathological (muscle atrophy during muscular dystrophy).

Atrophy can be caused by various reasons, such as impaired blood supply to tissues, malnutrition, infectious diseases, autoimmune processes, trauma, intoxication, etc. Depending on the cause that caused atrophy, it can manifest itself in various organs and tissues.

An example of physiological atrophy is a decrease in stomach volume after a long fast. In this case, the decrease in organ volume occurs due to a decrease in the number of stomach cells. With pathological atrophy, there is a decrease in the number of cells and a decrease in their function, which leads to disruption of the organ.

In addition to reducing the volume of the organ, atrophic changes can also manifest themselves in a decrease in the number of blood vessels and nerve endings in the tissues. This can lead to decreased sensitivity of tissues and disruption of their function.

Diagnosis of atrophy is based on an assessment of clinical manifestations, data from instrumental and laboratory studies. For example, with gastric atrophy, gastroscopy and biopsy of the mucous membrane can be performed, which will allow one to assess the degree of atrophy and its causes.

Treatment of atrophy depends on its cause and severity. In some cases, surgery may be required, such as stomach cancer. In other cases, drug therapy is prescribed to eliminate the cause of atrophy.

Overall, atrophy is an important pathophysiological process that can lead to various diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly identify and treat atrophic changes in order to avoid serious complications and deterioration in quality of life.