collagen

[ kol-uh-juh n ]
/ ˈkɒl ə dʒən /

noun Biochemistry.

any of a class of extracellular proteins abundant in higher animals, especially in the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibers and serving as connective tissue between cells, yielding gelatin when denatured by boiling.

Origin of collagen

1860–65; < Greek kólla glue + -gen

OTHER WORDS FROM collagen

col·lag·e·nous [kuh-laj-uh-nuh s] /kəˈlædʒ ə nəs/, adjective

Words nearby collagen

collaborate, collaboration, collaborationist, collaborative, collage, collagen, collagen disease, collagen fiber, collagen injection, collagenase, collagenation

Example sentences from the Web for collagenous

  • The only unsatisfactory result was with collagenous foods, which plainly showed the need of a preliminary acid digestion.

    On Digestive Proteolysis |R. H. Chittenden

British Dictionary definitions for collagenous

collagen
/ (ˈkɒlədʒən) /

noun

a fibrous scleroprotein of connective tissue and bones that is rich in glycine and proline and yields gelatine on boiling

Derived forms of collagen

collagenic (ˌkɒləˈdʒɛnɪk) or collagenous (kəˈlædʒənəs), adjective

Word Origin for collagen

C19: from Greek kolla glue + -gen

Medical definitions for collagenous (1 of 2)

collagenous
[ kə-lăj′ə-nəs ]

adj.

Producing or containing collagen.

Medical definitions for collagenous (2 of 2)

collagen
[ kŏl′ə-jən ]

n.

The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue that converts into gelatin by boiling.

Scientific definitions for collagenous

collagen
[ kŏl′ə-jən ]

Any of various tough, fibrous proteins found in bone, cartilage, skin, and other connective tissue. Collagens have great tensile strength, and provide these body structures with the ability to withstand forces that stretch them. Collagens consist of three polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix, and are bundled together in fibers. When boiled in water, collagen is converted into gelatin.