Erosion

An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.) For example, a skin erosion is a loss of part or all of the epidermis (the outer layer) leaving a denuded surface. For another example, tooth erosion is a gradual loss of the normally hard surface of the tooth because of chemical processes.

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1. A wearing away or a state of being worn away, as by friction or pressure. Cf.:corrosion. 2. A shallow ulcer; in the stomach and intestine, an ulcer limited to the mucosa, with no penetration of the muscularis mucosa. 3. The wearing away of a tooth by chemical action or abrasive; when the cause is unknown, it is referred to as idiopathic e.. SYN: odontolysis. [L. erosio, fr. erodo, to gnaw away]

- Dieulafoy e. acute ulcerative gastroenteritis complicating pneumonia, possibly caused by overproduction of adrenal steroid hormones.

- recurrent corneal e. repeated vesiculation followed by exfoliation of the corneal epithelium.

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ero·sion i-'rō-zhən n

1 a) the superficial destruction of a surface area of tissue (as mucous membrane) by inflammation, ulceration, or trauma <\erosion of the uterine cervix>

b) progressive loss of the hard substance of a tooth

2) an instance or product of erosion <a circular \erosion on the skin>

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n.

1. an eating away of surface tissue by physical or chemical processes, including those associated with inflammation. A cervical erosion is an abnormal area of epithelium that may develop at the neck of the uterus due to tissue damage caused at childbirth or by attempts at abortion. In the skin an erosion represents a superficial type of ulceration and therefore heals quite readily.

2. (in dentistry) loss of surface tooth substance, usually caused by repeated application of acid, which softens the enamel surface. It may result from excessive intake of citrus drinks, citrus fruits, or carbonated drinks or by regurgitation of acid from the stomach, as in bulimia nervosa, hiatus hernia, alcoholism, or stress. The teeth become very sensitive. The cause should be corrected; severe cases may require extensive dental restorations.

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ero·sion (ə-roґzhən) [L. erosio, from erodere to eat out] 1. the wearing away or destruction of the surface of a tissue, material, or structure. 2. progressive loss of the hard substance of a tooth by chemical processes that do not involve bacterial action. See also abrasion and attrition. 3. a gradual breakdown or shallow ulceration of the skin, involving only the epidermis; it usually heals without scarring.

Erosion of the lingual surfaces of the maxillary teeth, showing concave depressions of the dentin surrounded by elevated rims of enamel.