NIH MeSH · D016880Phenomena and Processes

Anisotropy

Also known asAnisotropies

Definition

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.

MeSH classification

  • G01.590.040
  • G02.050

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Related concepts

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D016880) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗