Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Atresia
Introduction
Atresia is a condition in which a body orifice or passage in the body is abnormally closed or absent.
Examples of atresia include:
- Biliary atresia
- Ovarian follicle atresia, atresia refers to the degeneration and subsequent resorption of one or more immature ovarian follicles.
- Vaginal atresia – congenital occlusion of the vagina or subsequence adhesion (sticking together) of the walls of the vagina occluding it.
- Esophageal atresia – affects the alimentary tract causing the esophagus to end before connecting normally to the stomach.
- Choanal atresia – blockage of the back of the nasal passage, usually by abnormal bony or soft tissue.
- Anorectal atresia – malformation of the opening between the rectum and anus.
- Pulmonary atresia – malformation of the pulmonary valve in which the valve orifice fails to develop.
- Aural atresia (see Microtia) – a congenital deformity of the pinna (outer ear).
- Intestinal atresia – malformation of the intestine