glycogen

[glahy-kuh-juh n, -jen]

See more synonyms for glycogen on Thesaurus.com

noun Biochemistry.

a white, tasteless polysaccharide, (C6H10O5)n, molecularly similar to starch, constituting the principal carbohydrate storage material in animals and occurring chiefly in the liver, in muscle, and in fungi and yeasts.

Origin of glycogen

First recorded in 1855–60; glyco- + -gen

Also called animal starch.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for glycogen

carbohydrate, sugar, starch, lactose, glucose, cellulose, polysaccharide, glycogen, galactose, monosaccharide, disaccharide, sucrose, maltose, fructose, dextrose, dextrin

Examples from the Web for glycogen

Historical Examples of glycogen

It may also be used for the recognition of glycogen in secretions.
Histology of the Blood
Paul Ehrlich
How glycogen is transformed into sugar within the organism is unknown.
Schenk's Theory: The Determination of Sex
Samuel Leopold Schenk
There is a limit to the ability of the liver to change sugar into glycogen.
Physiology
Ernest G. Martin
Maltose is absorbed and assimilated, converted into glycogen.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
Thus we have animal starch, or glycogen, stored up in the liver.
A Practical Physiology
Albert F. Blaisdell

British Dictionary definitions for glycogen

glycogen

noun

a polysaccharide consisting of glucose units: the form in which carbohydrate is stored in the liver and muscles in man and animals. It can easily be hydrolysed to glucoseAlso called: animal starch

Derived Formsglycogenic (ˌɡlaɪkəʊˈdʒɛnɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for glycogen

starch-like substance found in the liver and animal tissue, 1860, from French glycogène, "sugar-producer," from Greek glykys "sweet" (see glucose) + French -gène (see -gen). Coined in 1848 by French physiologist Claude Bernard (1813-1878).

glycogen in Medicine

glycogen

[glī′kə-jən]

A polysaccharide that is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and occurs mainly in liver and muscle tissue; it is readily converted to glucose.animal starch

Related formsgly′co•gen′ic (-jĕn′ĭk) adj.

glycogen in Science

glycogen

[glī′kə-jən]

A polysaccharide stored in animal liver and muscle cells that is easily converted to glucose to meet metabolic energy requirements. Most of the carbohydrate energy stored in animal cells is in the form of glycogen.