anabolism a·nab·o·lism (ə-nāb'ə-lĭz'əm)
n.
The phase of metabolism in which simple substances are synthesized into the complex materials of living tissue.
| anabolism (ə-nāb'ə-lĭz'əm) The phase of metabolism in which complex molecules, such as the proteins and fats that make up body tissue, are formed from simpler ones. Compare catabolism. anabolic adjective |
The chemical reactions that synthesize molecules in metabolism. (Compare catabolism.)
Note: Athletes often attempt to improve their performance by speeding up this molecule-building process through the use of drugs called anabolic steroids, despite the potential health risks involved. This use is outlawed in many athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games.
the sequences of enzyme-catalyzed reactions by which relatively complex molecules are formed in living cells from nutrients with relatively simple structures. Anabolic processes, which include the synthesis of such cell components as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, require energy in the form of energy-rich compounds (e.g., adenosine triphosphate) that are produced during breakdown processes (see catabolism). In growing cells, anabolic processes dominate over catabolic ones; in nongrowing cells, a balance exists between the two