physiological atrophy


physiological atrophy

Atrophy caused by the normal aging processes in the body. Examples are atrophy of embryonic structures; atrophy of childhood structures on reaching maturity, as the thymus; atrophy of structures in cyclic phases of activity, as the corpus luteum; atrophy of structures following cessation of functional activity, as the ovary and mammary glands; and atrophy of structures with aging. See also: atrophy