What is the Difference Between Atrophy and Dystrophy?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Atrophy and dystrophy are both related to the degeneration of tissues in the body, particularly muscle tissues. However, they have distinct differences:
- Atrophy: Atrophy is a disorder that causes partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body and a decrease in the size of a cell, organ, or tissue. It is often seen as the result of aging, diseases like polio, severe malnutrition, or Guillain Barre Syndrome. Atrophy can be classified into two types: disuse atrophy, which occurs after prolonged lack of use of a muscle, and neurogenic atrophy, which occurs due to damage to the nerves that control muscles.
- Dystrophy: Dystrophy is a group of disorders that cause weakness in the tissues in the body and lead to the loss of muscle proteins despite visibly enlarged muscles. Muscular dystrophy is an example of a dystrophic condition, which is a genetic disorder that affects muscle fibers and leads to muscle weakness and shrinking. Some forms of muscular dystrophy are hereditary and have a genetic mutation at their root, while others are produced as a result of sudden mutational changes following radiation.
In summary, the main difference between atrophy and dystrophy is that atrophy is a disorder causing partial or complete wasting away of a body part or tissue, while dystrophy is a group of disorders causing weakness in the tissues in the body.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Atrophy and Dystrophy? Comparative Table: Atrophy vs Dystrophy
Comparative Table: Atrophy vs Dystrophy
Here is a table comparing the differences between atrophy and dystrophy:
Feature | Atrophy | Dystrophy |
---|---|---|
Definition | Atrophy refers to the wasting or shrinkage of tissues or organs due to a decrease in cell size or resulting in a loss of function. | Dystrophy refers to the degeneration or abnormal development of tissues or organs, often characterized by progressive weakness, dysfunction, or structural abnormalities. |
Types | Atrophy can be localized to a specific muscle or group of muscles. | Dystrophy affects multiple muscles throughout the body and is often inherited, resulting in abnormal tissue development or progressive degeneration. |
Causes | Atrophy can be caused by various factors such as disuse, malnutrition, aging, nerve damage, or hormonal changes, leading to decreased stimulation or nutrient supply to the affected tissues. | Dystrophy is primarily caused by genetic mutations that affect the structure or function of specific muscle fibers. |
Manifestation | Atrophy can manifest as muscle wasting, loss of muscle strength or mass, decreased organ size, or decreased function in affected tissues or organs. | Dystrophy manifests as weakness in the tissues of the body, leading to a decrease in the size of a cell, organ, or tissue. |
Examples | Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a type of atrophy that affects specific muscle groups. | Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of conditions that lead to muscle weakness and shrinking, most commonly affecting muscle fibers. |
To summarize, atrophy is a degenerative condition that leads to the wasting or shrinkage of tissues or organs due to a decrease in cell size, while dystrophy is a group of disorders that cause progressive weakness, dysfunction, or structural abnormalities in muscles.
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