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Anterograde vs. Retrograde — What's the Difference?

By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 13, 2024
Anterograde refers to moving forward or occurring after a point in time, often used in medical contexts like anterograde amnesia (inability to form new memories). Retrograde means moving backward or reverting to earlier state, as in retrograde amnesia.
Anterograde vs. Retrograde — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Anterograde and Retrograde

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Key Differences

Anterograde describes progression forward from a certain point, notably in contexts like anterograde amnesia, where individuals cannot create new memories after a specific event. This directionality emphasizes advancement or continuation from a particular moment. On the other hand, retrograde signifies a movement or action that goes backward, often towards a previous condition or state, exemplified by retrograde amnesia, where people lose memories that existed before an incident, highlighting a regression or return to an earlier state.
In the realm of astronomy, anterograde (or direct) motion refers to celestial bodies moving eastward across the sky relative to the stars, which is their natural motion as observed from Earth. Conversely, retrograde motion is observed when a planet appears to move westward across the sky, opposite to the common eastward progression, often due to the relative positions of planets and their orbital speeds.
In biology, anterograde transport refers to the movement of molecules or organelles within cells from the nucleus towards the periphery, aligning with growth or secretion processes. Retrograde transport, however, involves movement from the cell's periphery back to the nucleus or recycling within the cell, indicative of processes like recycling of cell components or signaling retrogression.
Anterograde processes are often associated with progression, development, or forward movement in time or space, suggesting advancement or continuation. Retrograde, by contrast, often implies a return to a previous condition, a reversal of progress, or a backward movement, sometimes associated with decline or reverting to an earlier state of development or condition.

Comparison Chart

Definition

Moving forward or occurring after a specific point
Moving backward or reverting to an earlier state
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Context

Amnesia, transport within cells, astronomy
Amnesia, cellular transport, planetary motion

Implication

Progression, advancement
Regression, reversal

Examples

Anterograde amnesia, anterograde transport
Retrograde amnesia, retrograde motion in astronomy

Significance

Associated with growth, development, continuation
Linked to decline, return to previous states

Compare with Definitions

Anterograde

Related to subsequent events or stages.
Anterograde analysis helps in understanding future implications of a policy.

Retrograde

Moving backward or reverting to an earlier condition.
Retrograde amnesia involves losing existing memories.

Anterograde

Pertaining to progress or advancement.
Anterograde progression in therapy is essential for recovery.

Retrograde

Pertaining to going back in time or order.
The retrograde analysis revealed the cause of the failure.

Anterograde

Moving forward from a particular point in time.
Anterograde amnesia affects the ability to form new memories.

Retrograde

Signifying regression or decline.
The disease's retrograde course was concerning.

Anterograde

Describes the usual eastward motion of planets.
The anterograde motion of the planets is observed most nights.

Retrograde

Cellular transport towards the nucleus.
Retrograde transport within cells is vital for recycling proteins.

Anterograde

In cellular biology, transport from the nucleus outward.
Anterograde transport is crucial for neuron function.

Retrograde

In astronomy, the apparent westward motion of a planet.
Mars exhibits retrograde motion periodically.

Anterograde

Directed forwards in time.

Retrograde

Directed or moving backwards
A retrograde flow

Anterograde

(medicine) Effective immediately after a traumatic event such as an external shock.
Anterograde amnesia is a loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia.

Retrograde

Reverting to an earlier and inferior condition
To go back on the progress that has been made would be a retrograde step

Anterograde

(medicine) Moving or occurring in the normal forward or downstream direction of.
Movement of mitochondria and other cell parts from a neuron's cell body toward the synapse is called anterograde transport.
Anterograde tracing is a research technique which is used to trace neural connections from their source to their point of termination. The opposite technique is retrograde tracing.

Retrograde

(of the order of something) reversed; inverse
The retrograde form of these inscriptions

Anterograde

Of amnesia; affecting time immediately following trauma

Retrograde

(of a metamorphic change) resulting from a decrease in temperature or pressure.

Retrograde

A degenerate person.

Retrograde

Go back in position or time
Our history must retrograde for the space of a few pages

Retrograde

Show retrograde motion
All the planets will at some time appear to retrograde

Retrograde

Moving or tending backward
A retrograde flow.

Retrograde

Opposite to the usual order; inverted or reversed
The retrograde form of the melody.

Retrograde

Reverting to an earlier or inferior condition
A retrograde way of thinking.

Retrograde

Of or relating to the orbital revolution or axial rotation of a planetary or other celestial body that moves clockwise from east to west, in the direction opposite to most celestial bodies.

Retrograde

Of or relating to the brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement of a planetary body in its orbit as viewed against the fixed stars, caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed.

Retrograde

Of or relating to orbital motion in the direction opposite that of the predominant motion in an orbital system.

Retrograde

(Astronomy) To have retrograde motion.

Retrograde

To decline to an inferior state; degenerate.

Retrograde

(Archaic) To move or seem to move backward.

Retrograde

Directed or moving backwards in relation to the normal or previous direction of travel; retreating.

Retrograde

Reverting to an inferior or less developed state; declining, regressing.

Retrograde

(zoology) Of an animal: appearing to regress to a less developed form during its lifetime.

Retrograde

Of the order of something: inverse, reverse.

Retrograde

(music) Having a passage of music played backwards.

Retrograde

Of ideas or a person: opposing social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; conservative.
Retrograde ideas, morals, etc.

Retrograde

(archaic)

Retrograde

Involving a return to or a retracing of a previous course of travel.

Retrograde

Counterproductive to a desired outcome; contradictory, contrary.

Retrograde

(astronomy)

Retrograde

Of a celestial body orbiting another: in the opposite direction to the orbited body's spin.

Retrograde

Of a celestial body: seeming to move across the sky in the opposite direction from its ordinary movement.

Retrograde

(geology) Of a metamorphic change: resulting from a decrease in pressure or temperature.

Retrograde

(medicine) Of amnesia: relating to the period leading up to the episode which caused it.

Retrograde

Of verse: reading the same forwards or backwards; palindromic.

Retrograde

In a reverse direction; backwards.

Retrograde

A movement backwards or opposite to the intended or normal motion.

Retrograde

(astrology) The apparent movement of a planet across the sky in the opposite direction from its ordinary movement.

Retrograde

One who opposes social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; a conservative.

Retrograde

(archaic) One who reneges on an agreement, or switches loyalties; a rebel, a renegade.

Retrograde

(music) The reversal of a melody so that what is played first in the original melody is played last, and what is played last in the original melody is played first.

Retrograde

(transitive)

Retrograde

(geography) To cause (a land feature such as a coastline or waterfall) to undergo retrogradation, that is, to travel in the direction of the land or upstream due to erosion.

Retrograde

(geology) To change (minerals, rocks, etc.) metamorphically through a decrease in pressure or temperature.

Retrograde

(obsolete) To cause (someone or something) to revert to an inferior or less developed state.

Retrograde

(intransitive)

Retrograde

To revert to an inferior or less developed state; to decline, to regress.

Retrograde

Of a celestial body, especially a planet: to show retrogradation; to seem to move across the sky in the opposite direction from its ordinary movement.

Retrograde

(geography) Of a land feature: to travel in the direction of the land or upstream due to erosion.

Retrograde

(military) To retreat or withdraw from a position.

Retrograde

(obsolete)

Retrograde

Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a planet.
And if he be in the west side in that condition, then is he retrograde.

Retrograde

Tending or moving backward; having a backward course; contrary; as, a retrograde motion; - opposed to progressive.
It is most retrograde to our desire.

Retrograde

Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc.

Retrograde

To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to move, backward, as a planet.

Retrograde

Hence, to decline from a better to a worse condition, as in morals or intelligence.

Retrograde

Move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies

Retrograde

Move in a direction contrary to the usual one;
Retrograding planets

Retrograde

Move back;
The glacier retrogrades

Retrograde

Go back over;
Retrograde arguments

Retrograde

Get worse; fall back to a previous or worse condition

Retrograde

Moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth

Retrograde

Of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma

Retrograde

Going from better to worse

Retrograde

Moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction

Common Curiosities

What causes retrograde motion in planets?

Retrograde motion occurs due to the relative positions and speeds of Earth and the other planets, making them appear to move westward across the sky.

Can both anterograde and retrograde amnesia occur together?

Yes, it's possible for an individual to suffer from both, severely impacting their ability to recall past memories and form new ones.

Why is understanding retrograde motion important in astronomy?

Understanding retrograde motion is essential for comprehending the mechanics of our solar system and the observational history of astronomy.

Can therapy influence anterograde progression?

Yes, therapeutic interventions can help in making forward progress, particularly in rehabilitation from injuries or conditions.

How does anterograde transport differ from retrograde transport in cells?

Anterograde transport moves molecules from the nucleus to the cell's periphery, while retrograde transport moves them in the opposite direction.

What is anterograde amnesia?

Anterograde amnesia is a condition where a person cannot form new memories after the onset of the amnesia.

What is the significance of retrograde analysis?

Retrograde analysis is a method used to understand events by working backward from a known outcome or state.

Is retrograde transport only associated with decline?

No, retrograde transport is also essential for cell signaling and the recycling of cell components, playing a critical role in cellular homeostasis.

What role does anterograde transport play in neuron function?

It's crucial for the delivery of neurotransmitters and other molecules to the synapse, affecting nerve signal transmission.

How can anterograde and retrograde be distinguished in medical contexts?

In medical contexts, the terms are distinguished by whether they refer to the loss of or inability to form new memories (anterograde) versus the loss of existing memories (retrograde).

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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