Definition

1. Noun:
   • A gastrointestinal hormone: Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone produced by cells in the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
   • Primary functions: It stimulates two main physiological actions: the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and the contraction and emptying of the gallbladder to release bile.
   • Release trigger: Its secretion into the bloodstream is primarily stimulated by the presence of fatty acids and amino acids (from digested fats and proteins) in the lumen of the small intestine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cholecystokinin is a key hormone for digestion.
  • The release of cholecystokinin signals the gallbladder to contract.
  • Researchers are studying the role of cholecystokinin in appetite regulation.

Advanced Usage

• "Cholecystokinin receptor": Refers to the specific protein on cell surfaces that cholecystokinin binds to in order to exert its effects.
  • The drug works by blocking the cholecystokinin receptor.
• "Cholecystokinin release": Describes the process or event of the hormone being secreted.
  • Fatty meals cause a rapid cholecystokinin release.

Variants and Related Words

• CCK: The standard abbreviation for cholecystokinin, frequently used in medical and scientific literature.
  • The test measured plasma CCK levels.
• Pancreozymin: An older, historical name for cholecystokinin, emphasizing its action on the pancreas. The term is now largely synonymous with cholecystokinin.

Synonyms

• Gastrointestinal hormone: A broader category to which cholecystokinin belongs.
• Peptide hormone: Describes its chemical structure as a chain of amino acids.

Related Phrases / Concepts

• Enterohepatic circulation: The cyclical pathway involving the liver, gallbladder, and intestines where cholecystokinin plays a regulatory role in bile release.
• Satiety signal: In neurobiology, cholecystokinin is often discussed as one of the hormones that sends signals of fullness to the brain after a meal.

Noun

1. a gastrointestinal hormone that stimulates the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and the contraction and emptying of the gall bladder; its release is stimulated by the presence of fatty acids and amino acids in the small intestine