Which term describes experiments conducted on intact organisms?

Which term describes experiments conducted on intact organisms?

• A. In Vivo
• B. Ex Vivo
• C. In Vitro
• D. Spatial Average

Answer: (A)

Experiments conducted in living, whole organisms are described as in vivo. This term means “in life” and specifies that the study occurs inside a living body, capturing the entire biological context, including interactions among organs and whole-system responses. In contrast, ex vivo refers to studies on tissues removed from the organism but kept viable outside the body, while in vitro means experiments done in controlled environments like petri dishes or test tubes, outside any living organism. Spatial average is not about where experiments occur; it relates to how imaging data are summarized rather than the experimental setting. So, the term for experiments on intact organisms is in vivo.

Experiments conducted in living, whole organisms are described as in vivo. This term means “in life” and specifies that the study occurs inside a living body, capturing the entire biological context, including interactions among organs and whole-system responses.

In contrast, ex vivo refers to studies on tissues removed from the organism but kept viable outside the body, while in vitro means experiments done in controlled environments like petri dishes or test tubes, outside any living organism. Spatial average is not about where experiments occur; it relates to how imaging data are summarized rather than the experimental setting.

So, the term for experiments on intact organisms is in vivo.