relaxin

American

[ri-lak-sin] / rɪˈlæk sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry, Pharmacology.

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

relaxin British

/ rɪˈlæksɪn /

noun

a mammalian polypeptide hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during pregnancy, which relaxes the pelvic ligaments
a preparation of this hormone, used to facilitate childbirth

"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

Etymology

Origin of relaxin

First recorded in 1925–30; relax + -in ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Research from the Guardian external-link in 2023 found that pregnancy also "elevates levels of hormones such as relaxin, which loosens ligaments and joints, potentially increasing the risk of injury".

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2024

Grant enthuses about the benefits of strong glutes in preventing knee injuries and back problems, and also for postnatal women whose gluteal muscles have lengthened during pregnancy as a result of the relaxin hormone.

From The Guardian • Nov. 19, 2018

British 10,000-meter runner Jo Pavey, competing at her fifth Olympics, blames relaxin for collapsing the arch of her left foot during pregnancy.

From Washington Times • Aug. 9, 2016

Describe the role of placental secretion of relaxin in preparation for childbirth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

There is no way of extracting relaxin from pocket gophers, and it is present in some bigger animals in only negligible quantities.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023