What is the difference between Atrophy, Agenesis, Aplasia, Hypoplasia?
Agenesis refers to complete absence of an organ,whereas aplasia and hypoplasia are used to indicate incomplete development or underdevelopment of an organ. Atrophy is the shrinkage of the size of cells by loss of cell substance. It is an adaptive response. When sufficient number of cells are involved the entire organ or tissue diminishes in size i.e. becomes atrophic.
