Degenerate
Degenerate
Degenerate (/dɪˈdʒɛnərət/), from the Latin degeneratus, meaning "to depart from its own kind", is a term used in various fields of science and medicine to describe a condition or state that has lost or altered its original properties or characteristics.
Medical Context
In a medical context, the term degenerate often refers to the process of deterioration or decline in the structure or function of cells, tissues, or organs. This can occur as a result of aging, disease, or injury.
For example, in neurology, degenerate can refer to the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons, as seen in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In orthopedics, the term is often used to describe conditions such as degenerative disc disease, where the intervertebral discs in the spine break down or degenerate over time.
Related Terms
- Degenerative disease: A disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of cells, tissues, or organs.
- Neurodegeneration: The progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons.
- Osteoarthritis: A type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.
- Senescence: The condition or process of deterioration with age.
Etymology
The term degenerate comes from the Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare "to be inferior to one's ancestors, to become unlike one's race or kind, fall from ancestral quality," from de- "down" + gener-, genus "birth, descent".
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Degenerate
- Wikipedia's article - Degenerate
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