acetylcholine

American  

[uh-seet-l-koh-leen, uh-set-] / əˌsit lˈkoʊ lin, əˌsɛt- /

noun

1. Biochemistry. the acetic acid ester of choline, C 7 H 17 NO 3 , released and hydrolyzed during nerve conduction and causing muscle action by transmitting nerve impulses across synapses.

2. Pharmacology. this substance used in its chloride form in eye surgery. ACh

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acetylcholine British  

/ -lɪn, ˌæsɪtaɪlˈkəʊliːn /

noun

1. a chemical substance secreted at the ends of many nerve fibres, esp in the autonomic nervous system, and responsible for the transmission of nervous impulses. Formula: CH 3 CO 2 (CH 2 ) 2 N (CH 3 ) 3 ⁺

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acetylcholine Scientific  

/ ə-sēt′l-kō′lēn′ /

1. A substance that is released at the junction between neurons and skeletal muscle fibers, at the nerve endings of the parasympathetic nervous system, and across synapses in the central nervous system, where it acts as a neurotransmitter. Chemical formula: C ₇ H ₁₆ NO ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• acetylcholinic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acetylcholine

First recorded in 1905–10; acetyl + choline

Example Sentences

"Acetylcholine signaling is a mechanism to help them encode and remember those events, analogous to 'episodic memory' in humans that allows us to remember events from our past," lead author Hayes explained.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2024

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter involved in many functions, including muscle movement, and heart rate.

From Salon • May 25, 2023

Acetylcholine can also be lost naturally and is linked to Alzheimer’s, some type of dementias and other neurodegenerative diseases, he said.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2022

A: Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter essential for cognitive function and memory.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2021

Acetylcholine can be considered a neurotransmitter because it is released by axons at synapses.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013