Phenomena and Processes

Autotrophic Processes

The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA, which derive their energy from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (autotrophy; HETEROTROPHY; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrient and energy requirements.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA, which derive their energy from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (autotrophy; HETEROTROPHY; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrient and energy requirements.

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Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Lithotrophic Processes
  • Processes, Autotrophic
  • Processes, Lithotrophic
  • Autotrophic Growth
  • Autotrophy
  • Lithotrophic Growth
  • Lithotrophy
  • Growth, Autotrophic
  • Growth, Lithotrophic

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

History Note

2007

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G02.111.071
  2. G03w.087

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Autotrophic Processes. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D052818. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D052818
  2. Autotrophic Processes. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84953550