Phenomena and Processes

Anisotropy

A physical property showing different values in relation to the direction in or along which the measurement is made. The physical property may be with regard to thermal or electric conductivity or light refraction. In crystallography, it describes crystals whose index of refraction varies with the direction of the incident light. It is also called acolotropy and colotropy. The opposite of anisotropy is isotropy wherein the same values characterize the object when measured along axes in all directions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A physical property showing different values in relation to the direction in or along which the measurement is made. The physical property may be with regard to thermal or electric conductivity or light refraction. In crystallography, it describes crystals whose index of refraction varies with the direction of the incident light. It is also called acolotropy and colotropy. The opposite of anisotropy is isotropy wherein the same values characterize the object when measured along axes in all directions.

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Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Anisotropies

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Indexing Annotation

usually NIM

MeSH Record

History Note

92

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G01w.590w.040w
  2. G02.050w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Anisotropy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016880. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016880
  2. Anisotropy. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropy
  3. Anisotropy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466686