glycogen

/'glikoudʤen/

Thân thiện

An athlete's muscles store glycogen for energy during a race.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A polysaccharide that serves as the primary storage form of glucose in animals and fungi: Glycogen is a complex carbohydrate stored primarily in the liver and muscle tissues. It functions as a crucial energy reserve, being broken down into glucose when the body requires a quick energy supply.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After a meal, excess glucose is converted into glycogen for storage in the liver.
  • During intense exercise, muscles break down their stored glycogen to provide energy.

Advanced Usage

• "Glycogen depletion": A state where the body's glycogen stores are significantly reduced, often leading to fatigue.

  • Marathon runners must manage their energy to avoid complete glycogen depletion before the finish line.

• "Glycogen synthesis": The biochemical process of forming glycogen from glucose molecules.

  • Insulin is a key hormone that stimulates glycogen synthesis after eating.

Variants and Related Words

• Glycogenesis (n): The metabolic process of glycogen synthesis.

  • Glycogenesis is most active in the liver following a carbohydrate-rich meal.

• Glycogenolysis (n): The metabolic process of breaking down glycogen into glucose.

  • The hormone glucagon triggers glycogenolysis to raise blood sugar levels.

• Glycogenic (adj): Relating to or promoting the formation of glycogen.

  • Glucose is a glycogenic substrate.

Synonyms

• Animal starch: A common synonym highlighting its role as the primary carbohydrate storage molecule in animals.

Related Phrases and Terms

• "Glycogen store": Refers to the body's reserve of glycogen.

  • Athletes often "carb-load" to maximize their glycogen stores before a competition.

• "Liver glycogen": Specifically denotes glycogen stored in the liver, which is used to maintain blood glucose levels for the entire body.

  • Liver glycogen is essential for preventing hypoglycemia between meals.

• "Muscle glycogen": Specifically denotes glycogen stored in muscle tissue, which is used locally to fuel muscular contraction.

  • Muscle glycogen is the direct fuel source for sprinting.

Học thuật

Noun

1. one form in which body fuel is stored; stored primarily in the liver and broken down into glucose when needed by the body

Từ đồng nghĩa

• animal starch