Glossary

Definitions of terms from throughout the website

Aspartame

An artificial sweetener,C14H18N2O5, formed from aspartic acid.

Bias

A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.

Biopsy

The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes.

Carbohydrate

Any of a group of organic compounds produced by photosynthesis plants that includes sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums and serves as a major energy source in the diet of animals.

Electrolyte

A chemical compound that ionizes when dissolved on molten to produce an electrically conductive medium.

Glucose

A monosaccharide sugar, C6H12O6, common in most plant and animal tissue, that is the major energy source of the body.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide, (C6H10O5)n, that is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and occurs primarily in the liver and muscle tissue.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans and regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, especially the conversion of glucose to glycogen.

Oxidation

The combination of a substance with oxygen.

Placebo

An inactive substance used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medical drug.

Plasma

The clear yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

Protein

Any of a group of complex organic macromolecules that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur, and composed of one or more chains of amino acids, and include many substances, such as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies, that are necessary for the proper functioning of an organism.

Prototype

An original type, form, or instance serving as a basis or standard for stages.