Sclerosis (medicine)
Encyclopedia
In medicine, sclerosis (also spelled sclerosus in the names of a few disorders) refers to the stiffening of a structure, usually caused by a replacement of the normal organ-specific tissue with connective tissue
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Types include:
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
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Types include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive, incurable, usually fatal disease of motor neurons. - AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
, a deposit of fat in the arteries which causes hardening. - Focal Segmental GlomerulosclerosisFocal segmental glomerulosclerosisFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a cause of nephrotic syndrome in children and adolescents, as well as an important cause of kidney failure in adults.It is also known as "focal glomerular sclerosis" or "focal nodular glomerulosclerosis"....
is a disease that attacks the kidneyKidneyThe kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
's filtering system (glomeruli) causing serious scarring and thus a cause of nephrotic syndromeNephrotic syndromeNephrotic syndrome is a nonspecific disorder in which the kidneys are damaged, causing them to leak large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine....
in children and adolescents, as well as an important cause of kidney failure in adults. - Hippocampal sclerosisHippocampal sclerosisAmmon's horn sclerosis is the most common type of neuropathological damage seen in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy . This type of neuron cell loss, primarily in the hippocampus, can be observed in approximately 65% of people suffering from this form of epilepsy.Histopathological hallmarks...
, a brain damage often seen in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy. - Lichen sclerosusLichen sclerosusLichen sclerosus is an uncommon disease of unknown cause that results in white patches on the skin, which may cause scarring on and around genital skin....
, a disease hardening and connecting flesh of the vagina of women and the penis of men. An autoimmune disorder. - LiverLiverThe liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
sclerosis is a common misspelling of cirrhosisCirrhosisCirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver. - Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, or Focal Sclerosis, is a central nervous system disease which affects coordination. - OsteosclerosisOsteosclerosisOsteosclerosis, an elevation in bone density, is normally detected on an X-ray as an area of whiteness, and is where the bone density has significantly increased...
, a condition where the bone density is significantly increased. - OtosclerosisOtosclerosisOtosclerosis is an abnormal growth of bone near the middle ear. It can result in hearing loss.-Clinical description:Otosclerosis can result in conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss...
, a disease of the ears. - Systemic sclerosis (progressive systemic scleroderma), a rare, chronic disease which affects the skin, and in some cases also blood vessels and internal organs.
- Tuberous sclerosisTuberous sclerosisTuberous sclerosis or tuberous sclerosis complex is a rare multi-system genetic disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination of symptoms may include seizures, developmental delay, behavioral...
, a rare genetic disease which affects multiple systems. - Primary sclerosing cholangitisPrimary sclerosing cholangitisPrimary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease caused by progressive inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts of the liver. The inflammation impedes the flow of bile to the gut, which can ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer...
, a hardening of the bile duct by scarring and repeated inflammation. - Primary lateral sclerosisPrimary lateral sclerosisPrimary lateral sclerosis is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness in the voluntary muscles. PLS belongs to a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases...
, progressive muscle weakness in the voluntary muscles.