glycogen

2 definitions found

glycogen - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Glycogen \Gly"co*gen\, n. [Gr. ? sweet + -gen: cf. F.
     glycog[`e]ne.] (Physiol. Chem.)
     A white, amorphous, tasteless substance resembling starch,
     soluble in water to an opalescent fluid. It is found
     abundantly in the liver of most animals, and in small
     quantity in other organs and tissues, particularly in the
     embryo. It is quickly changed into sugar when boiled with
     dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, and also by the action
     of amylolytic ferments.
     [1913 Webster]

glycogen - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  glycogen
      n 1: one form in which body fuel is stored; stored primarily in
           the liver and broken down into glucose when needed by the
           body [syn: glycogen, animal starch]