Degeneration

(de-jen-er-a' -shun). Deterioration, degradation, or retrogre ion of the molecular or cellular structure of a ti ue, organ, or cell, so that it can no longer maintain its function; pa age from an an a state to a cat a state, or from one cat a state to a lower one. Atrophy is a form of degeneration. D., Amyloid or D., Albuminoid, now regarded as an infiltration from without, and not as a degeneration of the proper cells and fibers. See Albuminoid Disease. D., Ascending, that which takes place in centripetal fibers after a destructive lesion of the spinal cord. D., Atheromatous. See End arteritis , Chronic. D., Black. Synonym of Melanosis and of Anthracosis. D., Calcareous, the deposition of insoluble compounds of calcium and magnesium within the ti ues. Caseation. See Caseation. Cloudy Swelling. See Cloudy Swelling. D., Colloid, akin to mucoid, the disorganized material becoming of a structurele , semi-solid, jelly-like consistence. D., Descending, that which takes place in the centrifugal fibers of the cord after a destructive lesion between the central cortex and the anterior nerve-roots. D., Fatty, the conversion of the proteids of a cell or fiber into oil. D., Fibroid, the substitution of fibrous for a higher grade of ti ue. D., Gla y, the halo-granular change of the heart-muscle seen in fevers. D., Gray, in nervous ti ue a degeneration due to chronic inflammation, and characterized by the production of a gray color. D., Hyaline, the disorganized ti ue becomes shining and translucent. D., Hydropsic, a form of degeneration in which the degenerating cells imbibe large quantities of water. D., Lardaceous. See Albuminoid Disease. D., Mucoid, hyper-secretion followed by disorganization of the mucus-cells. D., Reaction of. See Reaction of Degeneration. D., Senile, the widely di eminated degenerative changes, largely fibroid in character, that mark old age. D., System, degeneration of a system of fibers, in contradistinction to insular or scattered degeneration. D.,Waxy. Set. Albuminoid Disease. D., Zenker's. Same as D., Gla y.