somatotropin
1
9.9
- noun
- /soʊˌmætəˈtroʊpɪn/
- Specialized
:
somatotropina
- Bovine somatotropin is used in the dairy industry to increase milk production in cows.
- bovine somatotropin
Examples
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Doctors may prescribe somatotropin to children with growth hormone deficiency.
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Excess production of somatotropin in adults may lead to acromegaly.
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Levels of somatotropin can be measured through specific blood tests.
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The body produces somatotropin during childhood.
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Many athletes use somatotropin to enhance performance.
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Scientists study how somatotropin affects growth patterns in various animal species.
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The use of somatotropin in livestock has led to significant changes in agricultural practices.
Synonyms
21
3.5
A chemical made by a gland that makes people and animals grow and cells multiply
A hormone made by a small gland at the base of the brain that helps the body grow
A substance made by a small gland at the base of the brain that makes people and animals grow
A chemical that makes the body grow and cells multiply
A hormone made by a gland at the base of the brain that makes people and animals grow
Surface Forms
Morphology
somatotropin = somato + tropin
A specialised biomedical coinage built from Greek combining forms ('somato-' + '-tropin') that are not productive standalone English words, so the meaning 'growth hormone' is not inferable to an average B1 learner from its parts.
Etymology
Somatotropin comes from Greek parts: soma meaning 'body', tropin meaning 'to turn or act on', and the ending -in used for substances like hormones. So, somatotropin is a substance that 'acts on' the body to turn on growth and make new cells, which is why it is the growth hormone.