Final answer:
Fibrosis is the formation of fibrous tissue, stenosis results from tissue thickening, and sclerosis is tissue hardening.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key distinguishing factors between fibrosis, stenosis, and sclerosis are:
- Fibrosis: It is the formation of fibrous tissue in an organ or tissue, replacing dead cells. It can be caused by factors like viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or contact with liver-toxic chemicals. Fibrosis is a general term used to describe the formation of scar tissue in various organs.
- Stenosis: It is a condition that results from tissue thickening in narrow passages or openings of the body. For example, aortic stenosis refers to the narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart due to the thickening of valve tissue.
- Sclerosis: It involves the hardening of tissue due to the deposition of calcium crystals. Atherosclerosis, for instance, refers to the hardening and thickening of artery walls due to the buildup of plaques.