Sentence:  Microscopic studies of the gastrocnemius , pectoralis major , transversus abdominis , biceps brachii , and diaphragm showed atrophy as well as varying <WSD>degrees</WSD> of injury ranging from swelling and vacuolization to focal necrosis of the muscle fibers . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process