atresia

[ uh-tree-zhuh, -zhee-uh ]

noun

, Medicine/Medical.

1. the congenital absence, or the pathological closure, of an opening, passage, or cavity.

atresia

/ -ʒə; əˈtriːʒɪə /

noun

1. absence of or unnatural narrowing of a body channel

Other Words From

• a·tre·sic [uh, -, tree, -zik, -sik], a·tret·ic [uh, -, tret, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of atresia¹

1800–10; < New Latin < Greek a- a- ⁶ + três ( is ) perforation + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of atresia¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek atrētos not perforated

Example Sentences

Atresia etiam consequitur vulnera et inflammationes morborum, ut diphtheritis et scarlatina.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes there is a complete closure or atresia of the lower part of the colon.

From Project Gutenberg

Atresia was in no instance great enough to account for the complete loss of enlarged follicles.

From Project Gutenberg

Follicular atresia is never great enough to account for the destruction of all large follicles remaining after ovulation.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps in some cases of atresia there may be a secondary obliteration of a previously formed opening.

From Project Gutenberg