Phenomena and Processes

Molting

Periodic casting off FEATHERS; HAIR; or cuticle. Molting is a process of sloughing or desquamation, especially the shedding of an outer covering and the development of a new one. This phenomenon permits growth in ARTHROPODS, skin renewal in AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES, and the shedding of winter coats in BIRDS and MAMMALS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Periodic casting off FEATHERS; HAIR; or cuticle. Molting is a process of sloughing or desquamation, especially the shedding of an outer covering and the development of a new one. This phenomenon permits growth in ARTHROPODS, skin renewal in AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES, and the shedding of winter coats in BIRDS and MAMMALS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Ecdysis
  • Moulting
  • Ecdyses
  • Moltings
  • Moultings

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

History Note

96

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. G07.345.500w.550w.750w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Molting. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018978. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018978
  2. Molting. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulting
  3. Molting. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q381084