sphingomyelin

[ sfing-goh-mahy-uh-lin ]
/ ˌsfɪŋ goʊˈmaɪ ə lɪn /

noun Biochemistry.

any of the class of phospholipids occurring chiefly in the brain and spinal cord, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, sphingosine, and a fatty acid.

Origin of sphingomyelin

< New Latin sphingo-, combining form representing Greek sphíngein to draw tight + myelin

Words nearby sphingomyelin

sphincteroplasty, sphincterotomy, sphingid, sphingolipid, sphingolipidosis, sphingomyelin, sphingomyelin lipidosis, sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, sphingosine, sphinx, sphinx moth

British Dictionary definitions for sphingomyelin

sphingomyelin
/ (ˌsfɪŋɡəʊˈmaɪəlɪn) /

noun

biochem any of a group of phospholipids, derived from sphingosine, that occur in biological membranes, being especially abundant in the brain

Word Origin for sphingomyelin

from sphingo-, from Greek sphingein to bind + myelin

Medical definitions for sphingomyelin

sphingomyelin
[ sfĭng′gō-mī′ə-lĭn ]

n.

Any of a group of phospholipids that are found especially in nerve tissue and yield sphingosine, choline, a fatty acid, and phosphoric acid upon hydrolysis.