The abnormal hardening or thickening of tissue, typically due to inflammation, scarring, or the deposition of fibrous connective tissue. This process can affect various organs and structures throughout the body.
From Greek 'skleros' meaning 'hard.' The term has been used in medicine since the 16th century to describe the hardening of tissues, originally applied to conditions affecting blood vessels and later expanded to other organs.
Multiple sclerosis gets its name because it creates multiple areas of hardened scar tissue in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting nerve signals like damaged electrical wiring. The same hardening process occurs in atherosclerosis, where arteries become rigid and narrow.
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