atresia

American  

[uh-tree-zhuh, -zhee-uh] / əˈtri ʒə, -ʒi ə /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

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

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atresia British  

/ -ʒə, əˈtriːʒɪə /

noun

1. absence of or unnatural narrowing of a body channel

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Other Word Forms

• atresic adjective
• atretic adjective

Etymology

Origin of atresia

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

Example Sentences

She said Reggie was born with a number of health complications, including oesophageal atresia and skeletal dysplasia, meaning he will have to have both legs amputated.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

Within weeks he was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a blockage in the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder, a rare form of liver disease only seen in infants.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2022

Cecilia had been suffering since birth with biliary atresia.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 18, 2021

And my little girl got diagnosed with biliary atresia and we spent 93 days on the liver transplant waiting list.

From Washington Post • Jun. 19, 2020

Cancrum oris, scarlet fever, burns, scurvy, etc., are occasional causes that have been mentioned, the atresia in these instances taking place at any time of life.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)