tropho-, troph-, -trophy, -trophs, -trophically, -trophic, -trophous

Degeneration; loss of physical vitality or ability.

1. The loss of vitality in or the degeneration of certain cells or tissues, as in the aging process; physical degeneration; loss of vitality.
2. Progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs leading to disorders or loss of function. The longevity of the heart, for instance, may be appreciably shorter than that of other organs of the body, leading to early disturbance in function which upsets organ-equilibrium.
3. The degeneration or loss of function or vitality in an organism or in cells or tissues not due to any apparent injury; such as, senile dementia and related abiotrophies.

The atrophy of the myocardium or wasting away of the muscles of the heart.

Growth or nourishment of one part or tissue at the expense of another part of the body; as in certain neoplasms.

1. Changed or modified in nutritive power by the process of digestion.
2. Rendered non-nutritious by the process of digestion.
3. Plants that are dependent upon other organisms for nutrition; heterotrophic; said of plants unable to perform photosynthesis, as all saprophytes; the opposite of autotrophic.

1. Obtaining nourishment from another organism or organisms.
2. Having an altered nutritive value so as to become less nutritious.
3. A reference to the influx of nutrients into a body of water or ecosystem from outside.

A lake receiving organic materials by drainage from the surrounding land.

Muscular wasting away or atrophy.

Lack of substances essential to the formation of blood, thereby resulting in hypoplastic anemia.

1. Preventing or curing atrophy.
2. An agent that promotes the restoration of atrophied structures.

1. Exhibiting or affected with atrophy; wasted; withered; shriveled: "An atrophied arm." or "An atrophied talent."
2. With reference to a part of the body, to be reduced in size and therefore strength, or, more generally, to become weaker: "After several months in a hospital bed, my leg muscles had atrophied."
3. In pathology, a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use: "Muscular atrophy of a person affected with paralysis."
4. A wasting away, deterioration, or diminution; such as, intellectual atrophy.

Atrophy of the skin that may occur either in discrete localized areas or in widespread areas.

Characterized by atrophy.

1. A wasting away, especially of body tissue, an organ, etc., or the failure of an organ or part to grow or develop, as a result of insufficient nutrition.
2. In pathology, a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
3. The degeneration, decline, or decrease, because of disuse: "He argued that there was a progressive atrophy of freedom and independence of thought."
4. A wasting of tissues, organs, or the entire body, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, decreased cellular volume, pressure, ischemia, malnutrition, lessened function, or hormonal changes.

1. An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs.
2. Any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as a source of energy, as most plants and certain bacteria and protists.

An autotroph is an organism that produces organic compounds from carbon dioxide as a carbon source, using either light or reactions of inorganic chemical compounds as a source of energy. Plants and other organisms using photosynthesis are photolithoautotrophs; bacteria that utilize the oxidation of inorganic compounds such as hydrogen sulfide or ferrous iron as an energy source are chemolithoautotrophs.

There are some organisms that require organic compounds as a source of carbon, but which are able to use light or inorganic compounds as sources of energy. Such organisms are not defined as autotrophic, but rather as heterotrophic. An organism that obtains carbon from organic compounds but obtains energy from light is known as a photoheterotroph, while an organism that obtains carbon from organic compunds but obtains energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds is referred to as a chemoheterotroph.

Autotrophs are a vital part of the food chain. They take energy from the sun or from inorganic sources and convert them into a form (organic molecules) that they use to carry out biological functions including cell growth, and which other organisms (called heterotrophs) utilize as food.

So it is that heterotrophs; such as, animals, fungi, as well as most bacteria and protozoa all depend on autotrophs for energy and for the raw materials to make complex organic molecules. Heterotrophs obtain energy by breaking down organic molecules obtained in their food.

Carnivorous animals ultimately rely on autotrophs because the energy and organic building blocks obtained from their prey comes from autotrophs which were eaten by the prey.