relaxin

[ ri-lak-sin ]

nounBiochemistry, Pharmacology.
  1. a polypeptide hormone produced by the corpus luteum during pregnancy that causes the pelvic ligaments and cervix to relax during pregnancy and delivery.

Origin of relaxin

1
First recorded in 1925–30; relax + -in2

Words Nearby relaxin

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How to use relaxin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for relaxin

relaxin

/ (rɪˈlæksɪn) /


noun
  1. a mammalian polypeptide hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during pregnancy, which relaxes the pelvic ligaments

  2. a preparation of this hormone, used to facilitate childbirth

Origin of relaxin

1
C20: from relax + -in

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