tropho-, troph-, -trophy, -trophs, -trophically, -trophic, -trophous

The progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs leading to disorders or loss of function: Abiatrophy can be applied especially to degenerative hereditary diseases, like macula degeneration.

Degeneration or the loss of physical vitality or ability: In order to avoid abiotrophia in later life, Joe always went to the fitness studio to keep up as much energy, strength, and mobility as possible.

A reference to the physical degeneration or the loss of vitality: Abiotrophic disease processes are presumed to be a result of the progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs leading to physical disorders or the loss of bodily functions.

1. The loss of vitality in or the degeneration of certain cells or tissues, as in the aging process; physical degeneration; loss of vitality: The loss of energy or functions in an organism or in cells or tissues is termed abiotrophy which is not a result of any apparent injury, for example senile dementia and related abiotrophies.
2. Progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs leading to disorders or losses of functions: The abiotrophy of the heart may be appreciably shorter than that of other organs of the body which can lead to early disturbances in activities that upset other bodily organs.

The degeneration of the myocardium, or the wasting away of the muscles of the heart: Alfred was diagnosed with acardiotrophia and was told to take it easy in life and not go on any more hikes up the mountains.

Growth or nourishment of one part or tissue at the expense of another part of the body; as in certain neoplasms: In the study of of food, allogotrophia can help in understanding nutrient spreading and its impact on cellular development.

1. Changed or modification in nutritive power by the process of digestion: Allotrophia refers to the condition of being non-nutritious by the process of digestion.
2. A plants that is dependent upon another organism for nutrition: An allotrophia is heterotrophic and is said to be unable to perform photosynthesis as all saprophytes.

A reference to an organism that obtains nourishment from another organism: An allotrophic plant needs an external supply of food with organic carbon because it is not able to synthesize by itself.

A lake receiving organic materials by drainage from the surrounding land: The allotrophic lake near Jeff's house got its natural substances draining into it from the area of land around it

The lack of muscle size and number of muscle fibers that takes place with aging, reduction in blood supply, or following physical inactivity, and malnutrition: The amyotrophia that anyone has is often a progressive deficiency of muscle tissue, especially because that person doesn't move around and use his or her muscles.

There are numerous causes for the amyotrophias of muscles, including chronic malnutrition, immobilizations, and denervation which is a loss of nerve supplies that may be caused by a disease. For example, the death of motor neurons in polio causes the denervation of muscle fibers.

Muscular degeneration or away or the wasting away of the muscles: Because the elderly Mrs. Smith sat around too much all day and hardly got up to fix lunch or dinner for herself, she suffered from amyotrophy and finally wasn't able to get out of bed.

A lack of necessary nutrients or substances to make healthy blood: Muriel's anemotrophy resulted in the development of anemia (low red-blood cell counts) because of insufficient production of red blood cells by her bone marrow.

Referring to the prevention or cure of the failure of an organ or part to grow or to develop: An antatrophic agent can promote the restoration of withered, or shriveled body structures.

1. Referring to the decrease of muscle strength or a body part affected by being wasted, withered, or shriveled: Because of the pain, the patient had an atrophied arm.

The musician's lack of sufficient training revealed his atrophied talent.

2. With reference to a part of the body, to be reduced in size and therefore strength, or, more generally, to become weaker: After months of sitting in front of the computer playing games for several hours each day, it was obvious that Lucy had developed atrophied leg muscles which considerably handicapped her.
3. In pathology, pertaining to a degeneration or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part because of disease, injury, or lack of use: Paralysis of the teenager was the cause of his atrophied muscular condition.
4. Descriptive of deterioration or diminution of something: Mrs. Old was told that her atrophied intelligence was a result of not having stimulated her mind enough.

A wasting away of the skin that may occur either in certain localized areas or in bigger sections of the body: The elderly Mrs.Stark's skin in parts of her body was getting very thin, and her doctor diagnosed her as having a case of atrophoderma, and that she should be very careful, especially of her hands.