cystic fibrosis

cystic fibrosis

noun

Definition of CYSTIC FIBROSIS

: a hereditary disease prevalent especially in Caucasian populations that appears usually in early childhood, is inherited as an autosomal recessive monogenic trait, involves functional disorder of the exocrine glands, and is marked especially by faulty digestion due to a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes, by difficulty in breathing due to mucus accumulation in airways, and by excessive loss of salt in the sweat—called also fibrocystic disease of the pancreas, mucoviscidosis