pepsinogen

[pep-sin-uh-juhn, -jen]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. crystals, occurring in the gastric glands, that during digestion are converted into pepsin.

pepsinogen

/ pɛpˈsɪnədʒən /

noun

1. the inactive precursor of pepsin produced by the stomach

Other Word Forms

• pepsinogenic adjective
• pepsinogenous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepsinogen¹

First recorded in 1875–80; pepsin + -o- + -gen