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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Glucagon
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Glucagon The hormone from the pancreas that causes the release of stored carbohydrate in the liver to restore blood glucose levels. Glucagon uses the second messenger cyclic AMP to exert its biological action.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.
Pancreas
A large, elongated gland located behind the lower portion of the stomach that secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon into the blood. These hormones are essential in regulating blood sugar levels. The pancreas also secretes enzymes into the small intestine that help with digestion and neutralize acid from the stomach.
Carbohydrate
One of the three main classes of foods and a source of energy. Carbohydrates are mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into glucose (a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells). The body also uses carbohydrates to make a substance called glycogen that is stored in the liver and muscles for future use. If the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it has, which are the basic problems in most forms of diabetes, then the body will not be able to use carbohydrates for energy the way it should.
Liver
The largest organ in the body. The liver carries out many important functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucagon
The hormone from the pancreas that causes the release of stored carbohydrate in the liver to restore blood glucose levels. Glucagon uses the second messenger cyclic AMP to exert its biological action.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Glucagen
Glucagen is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glucagon hydrochloride recombinant.
Glucamide
Glucamide is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): chlorpropamide.
Glucobay
The first in a class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Produced by Bayer.
Glucocorticoids
Generic name for hormones secreted by the adrenocortical glands that are not mineralocorticoids. The glucocorticoids are typified by cortisol or cortisone and are deficient in the syndrome of CVAH.
Glucocorticosteroids
Medications used to decrease swelling around tumors.
Glucophage
Glucophage is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): metformin hydrochloride.
Glucophage xr
Glucophage xr is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): metformin hydrochloride.
Glucor
The first in a class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Produced by Bayer.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine refers to a compound manufactured from glucose used in building cartilage.
Glucoscan
Glucoscan is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): technetium tc-99m gluceptate kit.
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucose 5-thio-D-glucose
Glucose 5-thio-D-glucose refers to a novel antimetabolic glucose analogue in which sulfur is substituted for the pyranose ring oxygen.
Glucose Tolerance
The ability of muscle cells and the liver to remove glucose from the bloodstream. As you age, glucose tolerance decreases.
Glucotrol
Glucotrol is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glipizide.
Glucotrol xl
Glucotrol xl is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glipizide.
Glucovance
Glucovance is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glyburide; metformin hydrochloride.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Gynandromorph
An individual that is a mosaic of male and female structures. The underlying cause is frequently sex chromosome mosaicism, such that some cells are chromosomal females while others are chromosomal males. Mosaic individuals having simultaneous aspects of both the male and the female phenotype.
Genotype
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual organism.
Gene
1. A unit of DNA that carries information for the biosynthesis of a specific product in the cell. 2. Ultimate unit by which inheritable characteristics are transmitted to succeeding generations in all living organisms. Genes are contained by, and arranged along the length of, the chromosome. The gene is composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Each chromosome of each species has a definite number and arrangement of genes, which govern both the structure and metabolic functions of the cells and thus of the entire organism.
Guanine
(guanine triphosphate) One of the 4 types of nucleotides that make up DNA. Base pairs with cytosine by 3 hydrogen bonds.
Glucagon
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucose Tolerance
The ability of muscle cells and the liver to remove glucose from the bloodstream. As you age, glucose tolerance decreases.
Glycemic Index
A measure of the rate at which a carbohydrate will enter the bloodstream as glucose. Some simple sugars, such as table sugar, will enter the bloodstream slower than many complex carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, and potatoes. The faster a carbohydrate enters the bloodstream, the higher its glycemic index. The higher the glycemic index of a carbohydrate, the greater the increase in insulin levels. Fruits and vegetables tend to have a low glycemic index, whereas breads, pasta, grains, and starches tend to have a high glycemic index.
Glycogen
The storage form of glucose. Only glycogen from the liver can be used to restore blood glucose levels.
Glycosylated Hemoglobin
A measure of the long-term control of blood glucose determined by the amount of carbohydrate-modified hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The higher the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin, the worse the control of blood glucose levels.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.
Pancreas
A large, elongated gland located behind the lower portion of the stomach that secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon into the blood. These hormones are essential in regulating blood sugar levels. The pancreas also secretes enzymes into the small intestine that help with digestion and neutralize acid from the stomach.
Carbohydrate
One of the three main classes of foods and a source of energy. Carbohydrates are mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into glucose (a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells). The body also uses carbohydrates to make a substance called glycogen that is stored in the liver and muscles for future use. If the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it has, which are the basic problems in most forms of diabetes, then the body will not be able to use carbohydrates for energy the way it should.
Liver
The largest organ in the body. The liver carries out many important functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucagon
The hormone from the pancreas that causes the release of stored carbohydrate in the liver to restore blood glucose levels. Glucagon uses the second messenger cyclic AMP to exert its biological action.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Glucagen
Glucagen is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glucagon hydrochloride recombinant.
Glucamide
Glucamide is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): chlorpropamide.
Glucobay
The first in a class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Produced by Bayer.
Glucocorticoids
Generic name for hormones secreted by the adrenocortical glands that are not mineralocorticoids. The glucocorticoids are typified by cortisol or cortisone and are deficient in the syndrome of CVAH.
Glucocorticosteroids
Medications used to decrease swelling around tumors.
Glucophage
Glucophage is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): metformin hydrochloride.
Glucophage xr
Glucophage xr is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): metformin hydrochloride.
Glucor
The first in a class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Produced by Bayer.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine refers to a compound manufactured from glucose used in building cartilage.
Glucoscan
Glucoscan is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): technetium tc-99m gluceptate kit.
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucose 5-thio-D-glucose
Glucose 5-thio-D-glucose refers to a novel antimetabolic glucose analogue in which sulfur is substituted for the pyranose ring oxygen.
Glucose Tolerance
The ability of muscle cells and the liver to remove glucose from the bloodstream. As you age, glucose tolerance decreases.
Glucotrol
Glucotrol is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glipizide.
Glucotrol xl
Glucotrol xl is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glipizide.
Glucovance
Glucovance is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): glyburide; metformin hydrochloride.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Gynandromorph
An individual that is a mosaic of male and female structures. The underlying cause is frequently sex chromosome mosaicism, such that some cells are chromosomal females while others are chromosomal males. Mosaic individuals having simultaneous aspects of both the male and the female phenotype.
Genotype
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual organism.
Gene
1. A unit of DNA that carries information for the biosynthesis of a specific product in the cell. 2. Ultimate unit by which inheritable characteristics are transmitted to succeeding generations in all living organisms. Genes are contained by, and arranged along the length of, the chromosome. The gene is composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Each chromosome of each species has a definite number and arrangement of genes, which govern both the structure and metabolic functions of the cells and thus of the entire organism.
Guanine
(guanine triphosphate) One of the 4 types of nucleotides that make up DNA. Base pairs with cytosine by 3 hydrogen bonds.
Glucagon
Glucose
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
Glucose Tolerance
The ability of muscle cells and the liver to remove glucose from the bloodstream. As you age, glucose tolerance decreases.
Glycemic Index
A measure of the rate at which a carbohydrate will enter the bloodstream as glucose. Some simple sugars, such as table sugar, will enter the bloodstream slower than many complex carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, and potatoes. The faster a carbohydrate enters the bloodstream, the higher its glycemic index. The higher the glycemic index of a carbohydrate, the greater the increase in insulin levels. Fruits and vegetables tend to have a low glycemic index, whereas breads, pasta, grains, and starches tend to have a high glycemic index.
Glycogen
The storage form of glucose. Only glycogen from the liver can be used to restore blood glucose levels.
Glycosylated Hemoglobin
A measure of the long-term control of blood glucose determined by the amount of carbohydrate-modified hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The higher the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin, the worse the control of blood glucose levels.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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