A muscle wasting due to aging or lack of use is called?

• A. Contracture
• B. Dystrophy
• C. Myopathy
• D. Atrophy

Answer: (D)

Muscle atrophy is the decrease in muscle size that happens with aging or when a muscle isn’t used regularly. As we age, muscle fibers shrink and can even diminish in number (sarcopenia), leading to thinner muscles. When activity is limited or immobilization occurs, the motor units aren’t stimulated as much, signaling the body to reduce protein synthesis and increase protein breakdown, so the muscle wastes away.

Contracture is a permanent stiffness from shortened muscles or connective tissue, not a loss of muscle mass. Dystrophy refers to genetic diseases causing progressive muscle degeneration. Myopathy is a broad term for muscle weakness due to disease of the muscle tissue itself. So the described scenario best fits atrophy.