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cirrhosis

(sə rō′sis)

a degenerative disease in an organ of the body, esp. the liver, marked by excess formation of connective tissue and, usually, subsequent painful swelling

Origin: ModL < Gr kirrhos, tawny + -osis: so named by R. T. H. Laënnec (1781-1826), Fr physician, because of the orange-yellow appearance of the diseased liver

Related Forms:

cirrhotic adjective

See cirrhosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue and the loss of functional liver cells. It can result from alcohol abuse, nutritional deprivation, or infection especially by the hepatitis virus.
Chronic interstitial inflammation of any tissue or organ.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin

Origin: : Greek kirros, tawny (from the color of the diseased liver)

Origin: + -osis

Related Forms: