glycogen (glī`kəjən), starchlike polysaccharide (see carbohydrate carbohydrate, any member of a large class of chemical compounds that includes sugars, starches, cellulose, and related compounds. These compounds are produced naturally by green plants from carbon dioxide and water (see photosynthesis ).
..... Click the link for more information. ) that is found in the liver and muscles of humans and the higher animals and in the cells of the lower animals. Chemically it is a highly branched condensation polymer of glucose glucose, dextrose, or grape sugar, monosaccharide sugar with the empirical formula C₆H₁₂O₆ .
..... Click the link for more information. ; it is readily hydrolyzed to glucose. Glycogen is formed by the liver liver, largest glandular organ of the body, weighing about 3 lb (1.36 kg). It is reddish brown in color and is divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape. The liver lies on the right side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm.
..... Click the link for more information. from glucose in the bloodstream and is stored in the liver; conversion of glucose to glycogen (glycogenesis) and hydrolysis hydrolysis (hīdrŏl`ĭsĭs)
..... Click the link for more information. of glycogen to glucose (glycogenolysis) together are the usual mechanism for maintenance of normal levels of blood sugar. Glycogen is also produced by and stored in muscle cells; during short periods of strenuous activity, energy is released in the muscles by direct conversion of glycogen to lactic acid. During normal activity, energy is released by metabolic oxidation of glucose to lactic acid.

glycogen

Principal storage carbohydrate of animals, occurring primarily in the liver and resting muscles. It is also found in various bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Glycogen is a branched polysaccharide, a long chain of glucose units, into which it is broken down when energy is needed.

glycogen (redirected from animal starch)

glycogen

glycogen
(redirected from animal starch)