What is hypoplastic?

Hypoplastic means underdeveloped or abnormally small.

It is often used to describe organs, tissues, or cells that have not reached their normal size or proportion due to a developmental abnormality or a lack of proper growth.

This term can be applied to various medical conditions and contexts. For example:

- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS): A rare, life-threatening congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.

- Pulmonary hypoplasia: Underdevelopment of the lungs, which can occur in conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia or congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

- Hypoplastic anemia: A condition characterized by abnormally low numbers of red blood cells due to insufficient or defective production of these cells in the bone marrow.

- Dentin hypoplasia: Underdevelopment of the dentin, the hard tissue beneath the enamel in teeth, leading to defects in tooth structure.

- Kidney hypoplasia: Inadequate development of one or both kidneys, affecting their size and function.

When something is described as hypoplastic, it indicates that it is smaller or less developed than normal, and it often requires medical attention or intervention to address any functional impairments or health issues associated with the condition.