relaxin
Americannoun
noun
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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
Etymology
Origin of relaxin
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
One theory is that relaxin, a hormone released during pregnancy to relax the ligaments in the pelvis and to soften and widen the cervix, may cause your teeth to shift.
From The Guardian • Oct. 20, 2019
In pregnancy, the body produces a hormone, relaxin, that helps loosen up ligaments and the pelvic area for birth.
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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
