atresia

noun

atre·​sia ə-ˈtrē-zhə 

1

: absence or closure of a natural passage of the body

2

: absence or disappearance of an anatomical part (such as an ovarian follicle) by degeneration

Examples of atresia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

A’ja developed a benign tumor on her lip and Kyrie was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a liver disease that will require Kyrie to undergo a transplant. —Char Adams, PEOPLE.com, 7 Oct. 2019

Sadie was born with biliary atresia, a condition in infants in which the bile ducts outside and inside the liver are scarred and blocked, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). —Fernando Alfonso Iii, CNN, 12 Sep. 2019

This is due to atresia, the ASRM explains, or the natural process through which follicles that house eggs in the ovaries degenerate and die. —Natasha Lavender, SELF, 22 Aug. 2019

Didn’t Want to Get Too Close’ to Son Billy at First Kimmel and his wife revealed that their son underwent two heart surgeries after he was born with a congenital heart condition, tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. —Mike Miller, PEOPLE.com, 23 Apr. 2018

The Jimmy Kimmel Live host’s son was born with a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. —Jessica Derschowitz, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2018

Kimmel's son Billy, who turns one in April, was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, which kicked off his crusade for affordable health care. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2018

Robertson, who lists his favorite wrestlers as John Cena and Roman Reigns, was stricken at birth with biliary atresia, a liver disease that stunted his growth and has required two transplants among 36 surgeries. —Gene Guillot, NOLA.com, 26 Feb. 2018

Billy suffers from the congenital heart condition tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. —Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 11 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- entry 2 + Greek trēsis perforation, from tetrainein to pierce — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

atresia

noun

atre·​sia ə-ˈtrē-zhə 

1

: absence or closure of a natural passage of the body

atresia of the small intestine

2

: absence or disappearance of an anatomical part (as an ovarian follicle) by degeneration