AMT's Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Practice Test 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success

The medical term for a decrease in size of an organ or tissue is "dystrophy." This term is commonly used to describe conditions where there is a gradual degeneration or abnormal development of tissue, which can lead to a reduction in size and function.

Dystrophy illustrates how certain pathological processes can interfere with normal cellular health and maintenance, ultimately resulting in atrophy or decrease in size of the affected tissues or organs. This term is often seen in the context of muscle tissue (e.g., muscular dystrophy) but applies broadly to any tissue experiencing this decrease in size.

The other terms, while relevant to specific medical conditions, do not denote a decrease in size. Meningitis refers to inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, myopathy refers to diseases that directly affect muscle tissue, and arthropathy describes diseases affecting the joints. Therefore, these terms are not indicative of size reduction in organs or tissues, reinforcing that dystrophy is the appropriate choice in this context.