metabolism

The biochemical processes that sustain a living cell or organism.

The biochemical processes whereby nutritive material is converted to living matter, or aids in building living matter, or by which complex substances and food are broken down into simple substances.

(meh-TA-boh-lih-zum) The total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism. These changes make energy and the materials needed for growth, reproduction, and maintaining health. They also help get rid of toxic substances.

The complex physical breakdown and synthesis of chemical changes occuring in the issues.

The sum of the physical and chemical processes involved in the maintenance of life and by which energy is made available to the organism.