Obligate has the following meanings in the field of medicine:

1. Not having another system or path. Characterized by the ability to only be able to survive in a certain set of environmental conditions. An example would be an obligate parasite. A parasite is any organism that lives in or on another living being (known as the host), gains an advantage by doing so, but causes disadvantage to the being it is living on. An obligate parasite can only survive within the host organism.

2. Essential for physical survival. Obligate comes from the Latin word "obligare" meaning "to bind to."

Back to main page Contact MedFriendly.com Copyright © 2001, MedFriendly.com. All rights reserved. You may not reprint or redisplay this material for commercial use without the express written consent of MedFriendly.com. Use of MedFriendly.com is subject to reading this disclaimer & the terms and conditions.