Degeneration – Definition

Degeneration, in medicine, means the deterioration of certain organs, tissues or cells, resulting in a gradual loss of their structure and function.  Recovery is often not possible with degeneration. Degenerative disorders usually end with -osis. Although the body’s innate mechanisms ensures that any damage or degradation can be minimized and normal function restored by the action of cell replication, in degeneration these mechanisms are either impaired or may not exist for certain cells like nerve cells.

Degeneration of Atrophy

A separate concept to degeneration that is sometimes mistaken for being the same phenomenon is atrophy. In atrophy there is a gradual shrinkage in size of the cells, tissues or organs and sometimes there is even a decrease in the number of cells. Atrophy is a consequence of under-utilization although it can be a result of other disease processes. It can usually be reversed with cells replicating or expanding is size with increased use.

Degeneration may result from :

• Physical wear and tear, like in supraspinatus tendinosis (degeneration of the supraspinatus tendon in the shoulder)
• Aging, like in macular degeneration of the retina
• Metabolic disorders, like in fatty degeneration (steatosis) of the liver
• Genetic disorders, like cystic fibrosis

Degenerative Disorders and Diseases

Degenerative disorders  should be distinguished from inflammatory disorders that end with -itis, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, and so on. Sometimes, both inflammation and degeneration may occur simultaneously at the single site or follow concurrently. An example is supraspinatus tendinitis followed by supraspinatus tendinosis.

Degenerative disorders and diseases are often considered serious, and rightfully so. The body needs all its organs and tissues functioning optimally to maintain the state of equilibrium associated with good health that is known as homeostasis. With degenerative diseases, this is however not possible.

Of all the degenerative diseases, it is probably the neurodegenerative disorders that receive widespread attention these days. In neurodegenerative diseases, part of or the entire nerve cell (neuron) is damaged or dies. Since nerve cells can repair but not replicate, a loss of these neurons eventually leads to degradation of the functions that it controls. Many of these diseases occur for unknown causes, may be due to hereditary factors or even be associated with alcohol misuse, prescription drugs and substance abuse. A typical example is Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism which has become quite prevalent these days.

Article reviewed by Dr. Greg. Last updated on April 23, 2011