NEUROTROPIC Meaning and
Definition
-
Neurotropic is an adjective used to describe something that has an affinity for or an effect on the nervous system. The term is primarily used in the field of medicine and neuroscience to refer to substances, organisms, or diseases that specifically target or affect nerve tissue.
Neurotropic substances are characterized by their ability to interact with neurons, which are the fundamental cells of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information through electrical and chemical signals. These substances can include drugs, toxins, or microorganisms. For example, certain pharmaceutical drugs may possess neurotropic properties, which allow them to bind to specific receptors on nerve cells and modulate their activity.
In the context of viral or bacterial infections, viruses or bacteria that are neurotropic have the ability to infect neurons and replicate within them, leading to neurological symptoms. This property is often associated with diseases like rabies or herpes, where the virus can invade the central nervous system and produce severe neurological complications.
Understanding neurotropism is crucial in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various neurological disorders. Researchers and healthcare professionals study the neurotropic properties of substances and microorganisms to uncover the mechanisms underlying their interactions with nerve tissue and to develop targeted therapies to counteract their effects.
Overall, the term neurotropic describes the specific affinity or effect that a substance or microorganism has on the nervous system, highlighting its ability to target and interact with nerve tissue.
-
Relating to neurotropism, having a chemical affinity for nervous tissue.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NEUROTROPIC
- beurotropic
- meurotropic
- jeurotropic
- heurotropic
- nwurotropic
- nsurotropic
- ndurotropic
- nrurotropic
- n4urotropic
- n3urotropic
- neyrotropic
- nehrotropic
- nejrotropic
- neirotropic
- ne8rotropic
- ne7rotropic
- neueotropic
- neudotropic
- neufotropic
- neutotropic
Etymology of NEUROTROPIC
The word "neurotropic" is derived from combining two roots: "neuro" and "tropic".
The root "neuro" comes from the Greek word "neuron", meaning "nerve". It refers to anything related to nerves or the nervous system. In scientific and medical contexts, "neuro" is used to indicate a connection to the nervous system.
The root "tropic" comes from the Greek word "tropos", meaning "turn" or "change". In biology, "tropic" refers to the direction or tendency of growth or movement toward a particular stimulus or condition.
Therefore, when combining "neuro" and "tropic", the word "neurotropic" describes something that is specifically attracted to or affects the nerves or nervous system. In medicine and biology, it is commonly used to describe viruses or drugs that have a particular affinity for the nervous system or selectively target neurons.
Similar spelling words for NEUROTROPIC
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
