Final answer:
The term for chronic, progressive inflammation and irreversible degeneration of the liver is cirrhosis, which occurs due to factors like hepatitis, alcoholism, and exposure to liver-toxic chemicals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for chronic, progressive inflammation and irreversible degeneration of the liver is cirrhosis. This condition is marked by the formation of fibrous tissue in the liver, which replaces dead liver cells. The death of the liver cells can be caused by factors such as viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or exposure to other liver-toxic chemicals, leading to a progressive loss of liver function. Although hepatitis is also associated with inflammation of the liver, it refers to a condition that can be acute or chronic and is mainly caused by various viruses, but also by some poisons, autoimmunity, or hereditary conditions.