autophagia

[ aw-tuh-fey-juh, -jee-uh ]
/ ˌɔ təˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə /

noun Physiology.

controlled digestion of damaged organelles within a cell.
the maintenance of bodily nutrition by the metabolic breakdown of some bodily tissues.
Also au·toph·a·gy [aw-tof-uh-jee] /ɔˈtɒf ə dʒi/.

Origin of autophagia

OTHER WORDS FROM autophagia

au·to·phag·ic [aw-tuh-faj-ik] /ˌɔ təˈfædʒ ɪk/, adjective

Medical definitions for autophagy

autophagia
[ ô′tə-fājə ]

n.

The biting of one's own flesh.
or au•toph•a•gy (ô-tŏfə-jē) The segregation and disposal of damaged organelles within a cell.
or autophagy The maintenance of the nutrition of the whole body by metabolic consumption of some of the body tissues.

Other words from autophagia

au′to•phagic (-făjĭk) adj.