muscular dystrophy

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a hereditary disease characterized by gradual wasting of the muscles with replacement by scar tissue and fat, sometimes also affecting the heart.

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muscular dystrophy British  

noun

1. a genetic disease characterized by progressive deterioration and wasting of muscle fibres, causing difficulty in walking

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muscular dystrophy Scientific  

/ mŭs′kyə-lərdĭs′trə-fē /

1. Any of a group of inherited progressive muscle disorders caused by a defect in one or more genes that control muscle function and characterized by gradual irreversible wasting of skeletal muscle.

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muscular dystrophy Cultural  

1. A hereditary disease in which the muscles progressively waste away. The disease can be potentially treated through gene therapy.

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Etymology

Origin of muscular dystrophy

First recorded in 1865–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

muscular dystrophy

Using a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the researchers removed TRF2 from muscle stem cells and observed a dramatic worsening of the disease.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

Mourkioti and her colleagues are now investigating whether the way muscle stem cells use TRF2 could lead to new treatment strategies for muscular dystrophy.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

Nunez Landry has muscular dystrophy, uses a power wheelchair, and needs help doing basic tasks such as opening the refrigerator.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

“Every October, USC reduces our health care options, and at this point only the most expensive plan covers my doctors,” said Sanjay Madhav, a Viterbi School of Engineering professor of practice who has muscular dystrophy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

There were tiny babies with club feet, children who had paralyzed limbs from polio, adolescents dying from muscular dystrophy.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

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