fibrosis
Meaning of fibrosis: Fibrosis is the buildup of dense scar-like tissue in an organ, which can stiffen it and interfere with its normal function over time.
Definition of fibrosis
Fibrosis is the formation and accumulation of excess fibrous, scar-like connective tissue within an organ or area of the body. It commonly develops as part of the body's response to ongoing injury, inflammation, or damage, replacing normal, functional tissue with tougher, less flexible fibrous tissue.
Fibrosis can affect many organs, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart, and the underlying cause varies widely, ranging from chronic infection and autoimmune disease to prolonged exposure to certain toxins or, in some cases, an unclear cause. As fibrous tissue accumulates, the affected organ can become stiffer and less able to perform its normal function, which is why significant fibrosis is often associated with a gradual decline in organ function over time.
The extent and pattern of fibrosis are typically assessed through imaging, laboratory testing, or a tissue biopsy, and this assessment often guides how a condition is monitored going forward.
Used in a sentence
A liver biopsy showed evidence of fibrosis consistent with chronic liver disease.
Good to know
Fibrosis represents replacement of normal tissue with scar-like tissue and, once established, generally does not reverse in the way that inflammation alone can resolve.
Word origin
Where “fibrosis” comes from
Formed from Latin fibra, meaning "fiber," and Greek -osis, meaning "process" or "abnormal condition."