What is the medical term for the shrinking or wasting away of tissues?

The medical term for the shrinking or wasting away of tissues is atrophy. Atrophy refers to a reduction in the size or wasting away of a body part or tissue, often due to a decrease in workload, malnutrition, or age. It can occur in any tissue or organ in the body and is typically a response to lack of use or nourishment.

Hypertrophy is the opposite process, where there is an increase in the size of an organ or tissue through the enlargement of its cells, often as a result of increased demand or stress on the tissue. Infarction refers to the death of tissue due to a lack of blood supply, which can be caused by blockage in blood vessels. Necrosis is the term used for the death of cells or tissues due to injury, disease, or lack of blood supply but does not specifically imply the gradual shrinking or wasting seen in atrophy.