Degeneration (medicine)

Degeneration is deterioration in the medical sense. Generally, it is the change from a higher to a lower form. More specifically, it is the change of tissue to a lower or less functionally active form.

• True degeneration: when there is actual chemical change of the tissue itself.
• Infiltration: when the change consists of the deposit of abnormal matter in the tissues
• Degenerative disease

See also

• macular degeneration
• neurodegenerative disease

References

Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Twenty-sixth Edition) (ISBN 0-7216-1645-3)