The processes by which organisms utilize organic substances as their nutrient sources. Contrasts with AUTOTROPHIC PROCESSES which make use of simple inorganic substances as the nutrient supply source. Heterotrophs can be either chemoheterotrophs (or chemoorganotrophs) which also require organic substances such as glucose for their primary metabolic energy requirements, or photoheterotrophs (or photoorganotrophs) which derive their primary energy requirements from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (AUTOTROPHY; heterotrophy; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrients and energy requirements.

Descriptor ID	D052836
MeSH Number(s)	G02.111.375 G03.393
Concept/Terms	Heterotrophic Processes Heterotrophic Processes Processes, Heterotrophic Heterotrophic Process Process, Heterotrophic Heterotrophic Growth Heterotrophic Growth Growth, Heterotrophic Heterotrophy Heterotrophy

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Heterotrophic Processes".

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Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Heterotrophic Processes".