atrophy

v. waste away, degenerate (Medicine)

n. wasting away, degeneration of a body part (Medicine)

For the American thrash metal band, see Atrophy (band) Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself. Hormonal and nerve inputs that maintain an organ or body part are referred to as trophic.
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Atrophy /at·ro·phy/ 1. a wasting away; a diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, organ, or part. 2. to undergo or cause atrophy. [more]Atrophy - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
(synonym) wasting, wasting away
(hypernym) symptom
(hyponym) amyotrophia, amyotrophy
2. any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
(synonym) withering
(hypernym) weakening
Verb
1. undergo atrophy; "Muscles that are not used will atrophy"
(hypernym) shrivel, shrivel up, shrink, wither
(derivation) wasting, wasting away

(v. t.)
To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.
  

(v. i.)
To waste away; to dwindle.
  

(n.)
A wasting away from want of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part.