Kalmar “katabolic” sifa ce da ke nufin rushewar hadaddun kwayoyin halitta a cikin jiki zuwa mafi sauki, wanda ke haifar da sakin kuzari. A cikin mahallin ilimin halitta, ana amfani da shi sau da yawa don bayyana tsarin tafiyar da rayuwa wanda ya ƙunshi jujjuya abubuwa masu rikitarwa, kamar sunadaran sunadarai da fats, zuwa mahadi masu sauƙi, kamar amino acid da fatty acid, waɗanda za a iya amfani da su don samar da makamashi don Kwayoyin jiki. Bayan ilmin halitta, ana iya amfani da "katabolic" gabaɗaya don kwatanta duk wani tsari da ya haɗa da rushe hadadden tsari ko tsari zuwa mafi sauƙi.