esogeni

Esogeni is a term used in several Romance-language scientific vocabularies to denote factors, substances, or origins that come from outside a system or organism. It is cognate with the English exogenous and contrasts with endogenous or endogeni, which refer to internal origin. The etymology combines the Greek prefix exo- meaning outside with a root related to origin or production.

In biology and medicine, esogeni describes anything introduced from outside the body or organism. Common examples include exogenous substances such as drugs, environmental toxins, or externally administered nutrients; exogenous hormones used in therapy; and exogenous infections caused by pathogens acquired from the external environment rather than produced within the host.

In ecology and environmental science, esogeni factors are inputs or influences that originate outside an ecosystem. Examples include external nutrient inputs, pollutants, and climate-related factors. Ecologists distinguish esogeni factors from endogenous ones, which arise from internal dynamics such as species interactions or internal resource cycles.

In geology and earth science, the term is used to differentiate exogenous processes—such as weathering, erosion, and sediment transport driven by external agents—from endogenous processes like tectonics and volcanism that originate within the Earth.

In linguistics and social science contexts, esogeni may describe external influences on a culture, economy, or language, as opposed to indigenous or internal sources of change. The term is most commonly encountered in discussions of external versus internal drivers across disciplines.

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