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Triglycerides Glossary

Terms used to explain Triglycerides Health Center can sometimes be confusing. To help you fully understand the articles and features related to this very important health topic, we have compiled a glossary of terms that can help.

Artery

ar*tery

Pronunciation: \ˈärt-ə-rē\

Function: noun

pl -ter*ies

1: any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body

Learn more: What You Need to Know About Coronary Artery Disease

Atherosclerosis

ath*ero*scle*ro*sis

Pronunciation: \ˌath-ə-rō-sklə-ˈrō-səs\

Function: noun

pl -ro*ses

1: an arteriosclerosis characterized by atheromatous deposits in and fibrosis of the inner layer of the arteries

Cholesterol

cho*les*ter*ol
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈles-tə-ˌrōl, -ˌrol\

Function: noun
1: a steroid alcohol C₂₇H₄₅OH present in animal cells and body fluids that regulates membrane fluidity, functions as a precursor molecule in various metabolic pathways, and as a constituent of LDL may cause arteriosclerosis

Chylomicron

chy*lo*mi*cron
Pronunciation: \ˌkī-lō-ˈmī-ˌkrän\

Function: noun
1: a lipoprotein rich in triglyceride and common in the blood during fat digestion and assimilation

Diabetes

di*a*be*tes
Pronunciation: \ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz, -ˈbēt-əs\

Function: noun
pl diabetes
: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine; esp: see: diabetes mellitus

Heart Disease

Function: noun
1: an abnormal organic condition of the heart or of the heart and circulation

Learn more: Lowering Your Cholesterol to Prevent Heart Disease

Hyperlipidemia

hy*per*lip*id*emia
Function: noun
1: the presence of excess fat or lipids in the blood

Hypertension

hy*per*ten*sion
Pronunciation: \ˈhī-pər-ˌten-chən\

Function: noun

1: abnormally high arterial blood pressure that is usu. indicated by an adult systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater, is chiefly of unknown cause but may be attributable to a preexisting condition (as a renal or endocrine disorder), that typically results in a thickening and inelasticity of arterial walls and hypertrophy of the left heart ventricle, and that is a risk factor for various pathological conditions or events (as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, end-stage renal disease, or retinal hemorrhage) see essential hypertension secondary hypertension white coat hypertension
2: a systemic condition resulting from hypertension that is either symptomless or is accompanied esp. by dizziness, palpitations, fainting, or headache

LDL

Pronunciation: \ˈel-ˈdē-ˈel\

Function: noun
1: a lipoprotein of blood plasma that is composed of a moderate proportion of protein with little triglyceride and a high proportion of cholesterol and that is associated with increased probability of developing atherosclerosis —called also bad cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, compare hdl vldl

Learn more: Foods That Can Raise LDL Cholesterol Levels

Lipid

lip*id
Pronunciation: \ˈlip-əd\

Function: noun
1: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (as chloroform and ether), that with proteins and carbohydrates constitute the principal structural components of living cells, and that include fats, waxes, phospholipids, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds

Learn more: Understanding Your Lipid Profile

Lipoprotein

li*po*pro*tein
Pronunciation: \-ˈprō-ˌtēn, -ˈprōt-ē-ən\

Function: noun
1: any of a large class of conjugated proteins composed of a complex of protein and lipid see hdl ldl vldl

Metabolic Syndrome

Function: noun
1: a syndrome marked by the presence of usu. three or more of a group of factors (as high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, and high fasting levels of blood sugar) that are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes —called also insulin resistance syndrome, syndrome X

Niacin

ni*a*cin
Pronunciation: \ˈnī-ə-sən\

Function: noun
1: a crystalline acid C₆H₅NO₂ that is a member of the vitamin B complex occurring usu. in the form of a complex of niacinamide in various animal and plant parts (as blood, liver, yeast, bran, and legumes) and is effective in preventing and treating human pellagra and blacktongue of dogs —called also nicotinic acid

Learn more: Taking Niacin to Control Your Cholesterol

Obesity

obe*si*ty
Pronunciation: \ō-ˈbē-sət-ē\

Function: noun
pl -ties
: a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater

Omega-3

ome*ga–3
Pronunciation: \-ˈthrē\

Function: adjective
1: being or composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids in which the first double bond in the hydrocarbon chain occurs between the third and fourth carbon atoms from the end of the molecule most distant from the carboxylic acid group and which are found esp. in fish (as tuna and salmon), fish oils, green leafy vegetables, and some vegetable oils

Learn more: Ask The Doctor: Different Types of Omega-3

Pancreatitis

pan*cre*ati*tis
Pronunciation: \ˌpaŋ-krē-ə-ˈtīt-əs, ˌpan-\

Function: noun
1: inflammation of the pancreas

Statin

stat*in
Pronunciation: \ˈstat-^ən\

Function: noun
1: any of a group of drugs (as lovastatin and simvastatin) that inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and promote the production of LDL-binding receptors in the liver resulting in a usu. marked decrease in the level of LDL and a modest increase in the level of HDL circulating in blood plasma

Learn more: When to Take a Statin

Stroke

Pronunciation: \ˈstrōk\

Function: noun
1: sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain —called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident

Triglyceride

tri*glyc*er*ide
Pronunciation: \(ˈ)trī-ˈglis-ə-ˌrīd\

Function: noun
: any of a group of lipids that are esters formed from one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of one or more fatty acids, are widespread in adipose tissue, and commonly circulate in the blood in the form of lipoproteins —called also neutral fat

Xanthoma

xan*tho*ma
Pronunciation: \zan-ˈthō-mə\

Function: noun
1: a fatty irregular yellow patch or nodule containing lipid-filled foam cells that occurs on the skin (as of the eyelids, neck, or back) or in internal tissue and is associated esp. with disturbances of lipid metabolism

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