What is metamorphosis in Russian examples. Transformation (metamorphosis) of insects. The meaning of the word Metamorphosis according to the dictionary of medical terms

METAMORPHOSIS, a, m. (special). Modification, transformation, transition to another form of development with the acquisition of a new appearance and functions. m. caterpillars into butterflies. M. tadpole into frog. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

METAMORPHOSIS - METAMORPHOSIS, a profound transformation of form or structure during the development of various organisms, during which the larva turns into an adult, for example, the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog. Scientific and technical dictionary

metamorphosis - METAMORPHOSIS -a; m. [Greek metamorphōsis - transformation] Biol. Changes in the shape and structure of plant organs during the process of their historical development or changes in the appearance and lifestyle of animals during the transition from one stage of development to another. M. caterpillar to butterfly. M. plants. Kuznetsov's Explanatory Dictionary

METAMORPHOSIS - METAMORPHOSIS (from the Greek metamorphosis - transformation), 1) in plants - modifications of the main organs (root, stem, leaf, flower) due to a change in function. 2) In animals - a deep transformation of the body during the period of postembryonic development (for example. Large encyclopedic dictionary

metamorphosis - orf. metamorphosis, -a (biol., zool.) Lopatin's spelling dictionary

metamorphosis - [gr.] – 1) transformation of one form into another, modification; 2) the transition from one stage or one form of post-embryonic development of some animals to another, often expressed in a sharp change in the structure of the developing animal, for example... Large dictionary of foreign words

metamorphosis - METAMORPHOSIS, metamorphosis, male. (scientific). Same as metamorphosis in 1 value. Metamorphosis of insects. Metamorphosis of goods (consecutive changes in the social form of goods in the process of commodity exchange, in the process of moving goods from the hands of producers to the hands of consumers; economics). Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

metamorphosis - noun, number of synonyms: 4 modification 20 metabolism 1 metamorphosis 17 transformation 26 Dictionary of Russian synonyms

metamorphosis - Metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis, metamorphosis Zaliznyak's Grammar Dictionary

Metamorphosis - (from the Greek metamórphosis - transformation) in plants, modifications of the main organs of the plant, usually associated with a change in the functions they perform or operating conditions. Great Soviet Encyclopedia

metamorphosis - In animals, the transformation of the body, as a result of which the larva transforms into an adult. Development with metamorphosis is observed in most invertebrate animals, as well as in some vertebrates: lampreys, a number of fish and amphibians. Biology. Modern encyclopedia

Metamorphosis - (Greek metamorphosis; from Meta- + Greek morphe type, form; synonym metabolism) in animals - a deep abrupt transformation of the structure and lifestyle of an organism during the period of postembryonic development, usually accompanied by a change in the animal’s habitat. Medical encyclopedia

metamorphosis - metamorphosis m. see metamorphosis 1. Modification of plants, organisms, their organs in the process of natural development. 2. Changes in natural substances and phenomena that occur over time. Explanatory Dictionary by Efremova

It happens that while studying a book, we cannot understand the meaning of a word. If even one word is not clear to us from the context, then the text itself becomes not completely clear. The first thing we do when we discover ambiguity is to turn to dictionaries for help. For example, the Russian language dictionary by S. I. Ozhegov or V. Dahl.

In addition, it often happens that even after reading the meaning of a term in the dictionary, the concept remains not entirely understood. Therefore, you have to look for various explanations and examples of using the word on the Internet.

Here we will examine the term “metamorphosis”.

Morphology of the term

The morphology of any term is its internal structure, that is, prefix, root, ending, and so on. To find out the etymology of a word, you need to look at its morphology.

The word "metamorphosis" is of Greek origin. Therefore we need to turn to the Greek language. In dictionaries it looks like this - μεταμορφωσις. Where the prefix meta- is translated as “behind, after, after, between,” and the root -morphe- is translated as “type, form, structure, formation.” That is, it resembles something “after the form,” something that arises after the form, some of its changes.

However, the etymology of the term “metamorphosis” is not fully understood.

Lexical meaning of the word metamorphosis

Many dictionaries say that metamorphosis is a kind of change in existing forms, the transformation of one into another.

The word being studied is used in two main meanings in Russian literary and scientific languages:

1. The direct meaning of the word. In this sense, the object receives new external properties and a new appearance and changes radically. For example, in biology, this term refers to the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a leaf into a tendril.
2. The meaning of an extraordinary change in someone, that is, there have been dramatic changes in character or appearance for others. Used in relation to people. There is a figurative meaning here.

The concept of metamorphosis in culture, philosophy, religion

In addition to general meanings, the word "metamorphosis" can also be applied to phenomena of culture, religion and philosophy.

There are always many events and phenomena happening in the world that are constantly changing and transforming from one to another. Metamorphosis is not the destruction of an object and the emergence of a new one, but a change that at the same time preserves the original existence itself. This concept implies the constant change of things and the preservation of a single being. Things are constantly changing, but are in unity with each other.

In a religious sense, metamorphosis acted as the transmigration of souls in Indian philosophy and mythology, Pythagoreanism, Neoplatonism and other teachings.

In Orthodoxy, the word "metamorphosis" is the Transfiguration of the Lord. The Lord has changed significantly, transformed by external and internal radiance.

Video showing a Monarch butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Internal changes in insects during transformations

As insects pass through certain stages of metamorphosis, they sometimes change their appearance more, sometimes less noticeably. However, the changes occurring to them are not only external, but also internal.

Metamorphosis processes occur mainly under the control of the endocrine system. As one might assume, the most obvious changes occur in insects with complete metamorphosis, which undergo more noticeable transformations, since with incomplete metamorphosis, the organs of the maturing animal are not very much rebuilt.

Unlike partial metamorphosis, complete metamorphosis occurs with significant changes in the structure of the body; this is observed throughout development, but occurs especially on a large scale at the final stages of transformation. During the transition to the stage, a deep, almost complete restructuring of the body takes place under the influence of two processes occurring in parallel - histolysis and histogenesis.

Histolysis

is a process of organ destruction in which cells (hemocytes) penetrate into tissues. The latter secrete enzymes and exhibit phagocytic activity (they destroy and absorb cell components). In the stage, the most intense histolysis of the integument, muscles, digestive organs, etc. occurs. The process often starts even before it is formed - during the last age, when it becomes calmer and can even decrease in size. Sometimes this phase is also called the prepupal stage.

Histogenesis

represents the opposite phenomenon, it is aimed at creating new structures from the products of histolysis. When building the body of an insect, the development of organ rudiments occurs. As a result, by the end of the stage, a full-fledged organism is formed under the shell, which, upon emerging from them, becomes. (video)

It may be of interest to readers that approximately similar processes also occur in the body of higher animals and humans, despite the fact that the transition to adulthood in our country is not accompanied by a clear division into stages. For example, a classic example of histolysis in humans (this process occurs under the influence of cellular organelles of lysosomes) is the return of an enlarged uterus to normal size after childbirth, and a peculiar form of histogenesis can be called the replacement of milk teeth by molars and an increase in their number to 32.

In plants, metamorphoses are modifications of the main organs that occur during ontogenesis and are associated with a change in the functions they perform or operating conditions. True metamorphosis - the transformation of one organ into another with a change in form and function - occurs in many herbaceous plants (the gradual death of an above-ground shoot and the transition to a rhizome, bulb, corm during an unfavorable period). In most cases, it is not the adult organs that undergo metamorphosis, but their rudiments, for example, when part of the shoots and leaves are transformed into spines and tendrils. The determination of the organ rudiment, which determines its final appearance and occurs at different stages of its development, is associated with the accumulation of certain physiologically active substances and depends on a number of external and internal factors. See also Shoot, Root.

. I. Hydroids: 1 - hydroid colony, budding jellyfish, 2 - jellyfish, 3 - eggs, 4 - planula (larva), 5 - polyp, giving rise to a colony. II. Polychaete worm: 1 - eggs, 2, 3 - larvae (2 - trochophore, 3 - nektochaete), 4 - adult worm. III. Gastropod: 1 - eggs, 2, 3 - larvae (2 - trochophore, 3 - veliger), 4 - adult mollusk. IV. Sea urchin: 1 - eggs, 2, 3 - larvae (2 - dipleurula, 3 - pluteus), 4 - adult sea urchin. V. Beetle: 1 - eggs, 2 - larva, 3 - pupa, 4 - imago. VI. Frog: 1 - eggs (spawn), 2 - tadpole with external gills, 3 - without gills, 4 - with hind legs, 5 - with all legs and a tail, 6 - frog.

In its most general sense, metamorphosis is the process of transformation or transformation of something. Most often we are talking about processes occurring in the universe. It is especially relevant to use this term in the context of biology.

In this article we will look at what metamorphosis is from a biological point of view.

Metamorphosis is...

Metamorphosis or metamorphosis is a deep transformation of the structure of the organism as a whole or only its individual parts. Such transformations occur as a result of individual development or, in scientific terms, ontogenesis. If we compare metamorphoses in plants and animals, they have significant differences.

Metamorphosis in plants is usually accompanied by the transformation of one organ into another. In this case, a radical change in the form and function of this organ occurs. For example, the transition of a shoot into a bulb, etc.

Metamorphosis in animals indicates changes in the entire structure of the body. In particular, such a transition is characteristic of most invertebrates, some lampreys, fish and amphibians. For example, this could be the transition from a larva to an adult. Quite often, the transition is associated with a change in the individual’s lifestyle.

You can find many other interesting definitions, including those about animals and plants, in a special section of our website -.