What Is the Meaning of Fibrosis?

Connective tissues carry out essential functions within every area of the body. Fibrosis develops in areas where injury is present, or it can be the result of a disorder within the body. Fibrosis can become a debilitating and even fatal condition, depending on its source of origin and the areas of the body affected.

Identification

• Connective tissue appears throughout the body in the cells and in the extracellular matrix, according to the Human Genome Project. The extracellular matrix houses nearby cell nutrients and helps coordinate cellular processes within different areas of the body. Fibrosis develops when connective tissue appears in excessive amounts, according to the Israel Institute of Technology. Scarring is a form of fibrosis that occurs when healing processes overcompensate for an injured or damaged area. Conditions in which fibrosis develops into a bodily disorder can significantly impair normal body functions.

Function

• When fibrosis develops within a region of the body, certain structural, metabolic and immune system functions may suffer, according to Israel Institute of Technology. Connective tissues provide structural support by maintaining the body's form and filling in areas between the internal organs. Metabolism functions involve delivering needed nutrients from the blood into different areas of the body, as well as eliminating waste materials. In terms of immune system functions, connective tissues contain the materials used to fight bacterial threats. They also provide the building materials needed when injury or damage occur.

Causes

• Fibrosis appears as scar tissue formations caused by injury or by conditions where chronic inflammation is present, according to the Human Genome Project. Fibrosis can develop as a symptom of another more serious condition like scleroderma, which is an autoimmune disease involving the skin and blood vessels, according to CureResearch. It can also result from long-term damage to an area of the body such as occurs with long-term exposure to harmful materials. In some cases, genetic mutations may also contribute to its development.

Cystic Fibrosis

• Cystic fibrosis is a recessive gene disorder that causes respiratory infections, breathing problems, abnormal heart rhythms and malnutrition, according to the Human Genome Project. With this condition, fibrosis appears within the sweat glands of the body. Sweat works as a lubricant within the respiratory system and prevents body tissues from drying out. Fibrous accumulations within the sweat glands prevent liquid from moving though to the lungs and tissues. As this is a chronic, progressive condition individuals diagnosed with it typically live up to 30 years after the diagnosis is made.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Pulmonary fibrosis is a form of permanent lung damage that affects an estimated 128,100 Americans a year, according to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Fibrosis appears within the lung tissues and causes breathing difficulties, shortness breath and dry coughing. Developing scars cause the walls of the lungs to stiffen, which impairs breathing capacity, according to the MayoClinic. This is a progressive disease with many different causes, some of which include occupational and environmental exposures to toxins and pollutants, radiation, chemotherapy and gastroesophageal reflux disease.