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
At the age of 20 years old, Dominique Barnes gave birth to her son Phoenix in 2016, who was born with multiple congenital heart defects including tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries.
—
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
These follicles disintegrate, a process known as atresia.
—Andrea L. Braden, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024
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
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Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
These follicles disintegrate, a process known as atresia.
—Andrea L. Braden, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024
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
Cite this Entry
“Atresia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atresia. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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