Malacia is abnormal softening of a biological tissue, most often cartilage. The word is derived from Greek μαλακός, malakos = soft. Usually the combining form -malacia suffixed to another combining form that denotes the affected tissue assigns a more specific name to each such disorder, as follows:
Osteomalacia (rickets), a bone disorder from vitamin D deficiency Chondromalacia, softening of cartilage (often refers to chondromalacia patellae when mentioned without further specification) Chondromalacia patellae, a disorder of cartilage under the kneecap Bronchomalacia, a disorder of the bronchial tubes' cartilage Laryngomalacia, a disorder of the larynx's cartilage Tracheomalacia, a disorder of the trachea's cartilage Tracheobronchomalacia, a weakness of the trachea and bronchi causing them to collapse Keratomalacia, an eye disorder from vitamin A deficiency Myelomalacia, a disorder of the spinal cord Cerebral softening (encephalomalacia), localized softening of brain tissue
References
External links
Definition at MedineNet.com