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Medical Definition of Chromolysis
1. The disintegration of the granules of chromophil substance (Nissl bodies) in a nerve cell body which may occur after exhaustion of the cell or damage to its peripheral process; other changes considered part of chromatolysis include swelling of the perikaryon and shifting of the nucleus from its central position to the periphery. Synonym: chromatinolysis, chromolysis, tigrolysis. Origin: chromato-+ G. Lysis, dissolution Central chromatolysis, chromatolysis associated with significant axonal injury. Synonym: retrograde chromatolysis. (05 Mar 2000)