morphallaxis

1 9.9

Regrowth that makes a body part smaller and simpler in small animals like hydras

noun
/mɔrˈfæləkˌsɪs/

Specialized

: morfalaxia

Researchers observed morphallaxis in hydras after the removal of their tentacles.

Examples

Some invertebrates rely on morphallaxis to recover from injury rather than growing entirely new organs.
Some species of planarians exhibit morphallaxis when they lose a part.
The study describes how morphallaxis differs from other types of regeneration in animals.
The concept of morphallaxis is fascinating in biology.
Researchers observed morphallaxis in hydras after the removal of their tentacles.
Some species of planarians exhibit morphallaxis when they lose a body part.
The study highlights how morphallaxis allows certain invertebrates to regenerate smaller versions of their limbs.

Antonyms

inactivity

10 3.5

A period of time with no movement or action

stagnation

1 6.5

Still water that does not move in pipes or lakes, causing poor quality

Surface Forms

morphallaxis singular

morphallaxes plural

Morphology

morphallaxis = morph (opaque) = morph + allaxis

The term 'morphallaxis' is a specialized biological term, and the meaning is not easily derived from 'morph' alone.

Etymology

Morphallaxis comes from Greek parts morph ('shape') and allaxis ('change'). So morphallaxis describes how some animals 'change shape' by rearranging their own body to form a smaller new part.