Amorphous
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article defines the term amorphous as non-crystalline substances. It explains that in amorphous substances, atoms are arranged in a chaotic, disordered manner, contrasting with the structured lattice of crystalline substances.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
AMORPHOUS (from the Greek a—negative particle, and morphe—appearance, form), non-crystalline. The atoms of an amorphous substance are arranged in chaotic disorder, in contrast to crystalline substance, where they occupy strictly defined places on the edges and faces of a crystal lattice. Amorphous bodies can be considered as liquids with enormous internal friction or as colloids.
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“Amorphous.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/amorphous/