metabolism

(mĕ-tab′ŏ-lizm)

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[Gr. metabolē, a change + -ism]
All of the energy and material transformations that occur within living cells. It includes material changes undergone by substances during all periods of life (growth, maturity, and senescence) and energy changes (transformations of chemical energy from food to mechanical energy or heat). Metabolism involves the two fundamental processes of anabolism and catabolism.
SEE: anabolism; SEE: catabolism
metabolic (met″ă-bol′ik)
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, adj.

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