Chain reaction
Chain reaction
A chain reaction (/ʧeɪn rɪˈækʃən/) is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.
Etymology
The term "chain reaction" is derived from the concept of a series of events, each caused or triggered by the previous. The term was first used in the context of chemical reactions and later adopted in nuclear physics to describe nuclear reactions.
In Medicine
In the field of medicine, chain reactions often refer to a series of biochemical reactions that occur in the body. These reactions can be part of normal physiological processes or can be associated with disease states. For example, the inflammatory response is a type of chain reaction that occurs in response to injury or infection.
Related Terms
- Biochemical reaction: A chemical reaction that occurs inside the cells of living organisms.
- Inflammatory response: A chain reaction in the immune system that occurs in response to injury or infection.
- Nuclear reaction: A process in which two nuclei, or a nucleus and an external subatomic particle, collide to produce one or more new nuclides.
- Positive feedback: A process that occurs in a feedback loop which exacerbates the effects of a small disturbance.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chain reaction
- Wikipedia's article - Chain reaction
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