1 prostaglandin | Definition of prostaglandin

prostaglandin

noun
pros路​ta路​glan路​din | \ 藢pr盲-st蓹-藞glan-d蓹n How to pronounce prostaglandin (audio) \

Definition of prostaglandin

: any of various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that are formed chiefly by the action of cyclooxygenase on arachidonic acid and perform a variety of hormonelike actions (as in controlling blood pressure or smooth muscle contraction)

Examples of prostaglandin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The thinking is that activity in certain nerve cells makes blood vessels in your brain dilate and also causes a release of inflammatory substances like prostaglandins, which can create pain. Korin Miller, SELF, "9 Health Issues That Can Cause Sensitivity to Light," 5 June 2018 Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "8 Ways to Make Your Cramps Suck Less," 6 Sep. 2018 Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "8 Ways to Make Your Cramps Suck Less," 6 Sep. 2018 Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "8 Ways to Make Your Cramps Suck Less," 6 Sep. 2018 Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "8 Ways to Make Your Cramps Suck Less," 6 Sep. 2018 Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "8 Ways to Make Your Cramps Suck Less," 6 Sep. 2018 Your period can cause diarrhea because of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances from the cells in the lining of your uterus. Korin Miller, SELF, "Is Diarrhea Really a Sign of Early Pregnancy?," 16 June 2018 This tissue may also produce prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that cause cramping, further exacerbating the problem. Nina Bahadur, SELF, "6 Things That Could Be Causing Your Lower Back Pain, Based on How It Feels," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prostaglandin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of prostaglandin

1936, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for prostaglandin

prostate gland + -in entry 1; from its occurrence in the seminal fluid of animals

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More Definitions for prostaglandin

prostaglandin

noun
pros路​ta路​glan路​din | \ 藢pr盲s-t蓹-藞glan-d蓹n How to pronounce prostaglandin (audio) \

Medical Definition of prostaglandin

: any of various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that are formed as cyclooxygenase metabolites especially from unsaturated fatty acids (as arachidonic acid) composed of a chain of 20 carbon atoms and that perform a variety of hormonelike actions (as in controlling blood pressure or smooth muscle contraction)

More from Merriam-Webster on prostaglandin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prostaglandin