degeneration

the deterioration over time of body tissues or an organ, resulting in a lessening of its function. The changes may be structural or chemical, and there are a number of types: fatty, FIBROID , calcareous (as with CONCRETIONS ), mucoid, and so on. Degeneration may the result of ageing, heredity or poor nutrition. Poisons such as alcohol also contribute to degeneration, as with CIRRHOSIS .