glycogen

[ glahy-kuh-juh n, -jen ]
/ ˈglaɪ kə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR glycogen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Biochemistry.

a white, tasteless polysaccharide, (C6H10O5)n, molecularly similar to starch, constituting the principal carbohydrate storage material in animals and occurring chiefly in the liver, in muscle, and in fungi and yeasts.
Also called animal starch.

Origin of glycogen

First recorded in 1855–60; glyco- + -gen

Words nearby glycogen

glycinuria, glyco-, glycocalyx, glycocholate, glycocholic acid, glycogen, glycogen acanthosis, glycogen granule, glycogen storage disease, glycogen synthase, glycogenesis

Words related to glycogen

carbohydrate, sugar, starch, lactose, glucose, cellulose, polysaccharide, galactose, monosaccharide, disaccharide, sucrose, maltose, fructose, dextrose, dextrin

Example sentences from the Web for glycogen

British Dictionary definitions for glycogen

glycogen
/ (ˈɡlaɪkəʊdʒən, -dʒɛn) /

noun

a polysaccharide consisting of glucose units: the form in which carbohydrate is stored in the liver and muscles in man and animals. It can easily be hydrolysed to glucose Also called: animal starch

Derived forms of glycogen

glycogenic (ˌɡlaɪkəʊˈdʒɛnɪk), adjective

Medical definitions for glycogen

glycogen
[ glī′kə-jən ]

n.

A polysaccharide that is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and occurs mainly in liver and muscle tissue; it is readily converted to glucose. animal starch

Other words from glycogen

gly′co•gen′ic (-jĕn′ĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for glycogen

glycogen
[ glī′kə-jən ]

A polysaccharide stored in animal liver and muscle cells that is easily converted to glucose to meet metabolic energy requirements. Most of the carbohydrate energy stored in animal cells is in the form of glycogen.