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How can persistent pressure cause atrophy in tissues and organs?
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atrophy
One example of atrophy is the progressive loss of bone that occurs in osteoporosis (normal bone shown on left; osteoporotic bone shown on right).
Persistent pressure causes atrophy in tissues and organs primarily by interfering with their nutrition and metabolic activity. When a cell, organ, or tissue is subjected to prolonged compression, this mechanical force disrupts the normal physiological processes required to maintain cellular health and function.1
Examples of this process include:
- Tumors: The pressure exerted by an expanding benign tumor can cause atrophy in adjacent normal structures.1
- Deposits: The accumulation of materials, such as amyloid, can compress and cause atrophy in local cells, such as those in the liver.1
- Vascular issues: The pressure from an aneurysm—a localized dilatation of an artery—can lead to the atrophy of tissues or even bone upon which it impinges.1
- Nervous system: Prolonged pressure on nerves, such as from a bulging intervertebral disk or a tumor, can cause the muscles controlled by those nerves to atrophy. Similarly, increased pressure within the skull can force brain tissue against bony structures, resulting in localized atrophy.12