What describes the wasting away of tissue and a decrease in size?

Atrophy refers to the process of wasting away or a decrease in the size of tissue or an organ. This can occur due to various factors, such as disuse, aging, lack of nutrients, or diseases that affect the cells' ability to function properly. In atrophy, the cells reduce in size and number, leading to a reduction in the overall volume of the tissue or organ. This phenomenon often occurs in muscles when they are not used for an extended period, such as during prolonged bed rest or immobilization.

In contrast, hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, inflammation involves the body's response to injury or infection characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, and necrosis refers to the death of cells or tissue due to injury, disease, or lack of blood supply. Each of these processes has distinct characteristics and outcomes, clearly differentiating atrophy as the only one that specifically describes the wasting away and reduction in size of tissue.