in vitro, in vivo

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

shahalam

brownmedstudent
10+ Year Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2004
Messages
283
Reaction score
0
i've never really run across these terms before...is there an easy way to remember these terms and what they mean and are there any other words like them that describe a reaction that could be important?

Members don't see this ad.
 
in vitro is just experiments in test tubes, and vivo is in living organisms........how hard is that? lol
 
i've never really run across these terms before...is there an easy way to remember these terms and what they mean and are there any other words like them that describe a reaction that could be important?
I remember them because "vivo" means "alive" in Spanish. So in vivo experiments are done in living creatures.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
"in vitro" is a Latin word that literally mean "in glass" - this refers to experiments conducted in non-living media such as glasses, petri dishes and test-tubes. "in vitro" is the equivalent of/otherwise called "ex-vivo"

"in vivo", on the other hand, also Latin, means "in life" - refering to studies conducted within living organisms.

It may help to think of these terms in reference to living organisms with:
"in vivo" meaning "INternal to a living organism"
"ex vivo" (aka "in vitro") meaning "EXternal to a living organism"
 
Yeah there are other such words too. Like: in situ (in the natural environment), ex situ.
 
in-vitro, t as in test tubes.
just remember in-vitro and you'll automatically remember invivo.
 
Top