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

The nutritive materials supplied to the embryos of placental mammals through the maternal bloodstream.

Pertaining to the mechanism by which a substance in or on blood cells, especially the erythrocytes, attracts phagocytic cells; the latter change direction and migrate toward the hemotropic cells.

Atrophy of the liver.

Organisms; such as, all animals, some bacteria, and certain plants, that depend, either directly or indirectly, on other ortganisms for food because of their inability to manufacture proteins and carbohydrates from inorganic sources: "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."

1. Obtaining nourishment from exogenous organic material; a reference to organisms unable to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic substrates.
2. A reference to plants occurring in a wide range of habitats on a wide variety of soil types, and of protistans (algae, fungi, and protozoans) utilizing a wide variety of food materials: "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; and so, such organisms are not defined as autotrophic, but rather as heterotrophic."
3. The ability or requirement to synthesize all metabolites from organic compounds.

1. The part of the nutrition of the embryo derived from cellular sources other than blood.
2. The nutrients supplied to the mammalian embryo from the maternal tissues as distinct from that derived from the maternal blood and bloodstream, which is called hemotroph.

Providing nourishment for or favoring the formation of tissue.

Muscular hypertrophy or a condition of excessive muscular development.

A microorganism that requires living cells to supply the enzyme systems necessary for growth and reproduction.

1. Usually an abnormal enlargement of an organ or body part because of an increase in cell size rather than cell numbers.
2. General increase in bulk of a part or organ, not due to tumor formation.

Use of the term may be restricted to denote greater bulk through increase in size, but not in number, of the individual tissue element; such as, the enlargement of muscles as a result of exercise.

1. Incomplete growth; atrophy.
2. Progressive degeneration of an organ or tissue caused by loss of cells.
3. Wasting that is often the result of recent nutritional deficiencies.