dystrophy

Dystrophy is the gradual decline or degeneration of tissue, usually muscle tissue, because cells are not properly nourished or controlled. The word comes from Greek and literally means 'poor nourishment.' In muscle dystrophy, for example, a genetic defect causes muscle cells to gradually die and be replaced by connective tissue or fat, reducing muscle strength. The degree of dystrophy can be determined with physical examination, blood tests, or sometimes with a muscle biopsy. On an information platform about incurable diseases, the word often appears in hereditary muscle diseases, where degeneration of tissue is the central feature of the disease.