Definitions provided by:

Glossary

Artery

ar*tery
Pronunciation: \ˈärt-ə-rē\
Function: noun
pl -ter*ies
: 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
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: an arteriosclerosis characterized by atheromatous deposits in and fibrosis of the inner layer of the arteries
Learn more: What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis

 

Cholesterol

cho*les*ter*ol
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈles-tə-ˌrōl, -ˌrol\
Function: noun
: 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
Learn more: A Personal Maintenance Guide to Cholesterol

 

Chylomicron

chy*lo*mi*cron
Pronunciation: \ˌkī-lō-ˈmī-ˌkrän\
Function: noun
: a lipoprotein rich in triglyceride and common in the blood during fat digestion and assimilation

 

Fish Liver Oil

fish–liv*er oil
Pronunciation: \ˈfish-ˌliv-ər-\
Function: noun
: a fatty oil from the livers of various fishes (as cod, halibut, or sharks) used chiefly as a source of vitamin A and formerly also of vitamin D compare cod-liver oil

HDL

HDL
Pronunciation: \ˈāch-ˈdē-ˈel\
Function: noun
: a lipoprotein of blood plasma that is composed of a high proportion of protein with little triglyceride and cholesterol and that is associated with decreased probability of developing atherosclerosis —called also alpha-lipoprotein, good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, compare ldl vldl
Learn more: HDL Cholesterol - How To Get More of a Good Thing

 

Heart Disease

Function: noun
: 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
: the presence of excess fat or lipids in the blood

Inflammation

in*flam*ma*tion
Pronunciation: \ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən\
Function: noun
: a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, pain, swelling, and often loss of function and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue
Learn more: Inflammation: The Body's New Bad Guy

 

LDL

LDL
Pronunciation: \ˈel-ˈdē-ˈel\
Function: noun
: 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

 

Lipid

lip*id
Pronunciation: \ˈlip-əd\
Function: noun
: 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
: any of a large class of conjugated proteins composed of a complex of protein and lipid see hdl ldl vldl

 

Metabolic Syndrome

Function: noun
: 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
Learn more: The Threat of Metabolic Syndrome

Niacin

ni*a*cin
Pronunciation: \ˈnī-ə-sən\
Function: noun
: 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

 

Omega-3

ome*ga–3
Pronunciation: \-ˈthrē\
Function: adjective
: 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
pl -atit*i*des
Pronunciation: \-ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz\
: inflammation of the pancreas
Learn more: Chronic Pancreatitis

 

Statin

stat*in
Pronunciation: \ˈstat-^ən\
Function: noun
: 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: Statin Might Help More People Fight Heart Disease Than Thought

 

Stroke

stroke
Pronunciation: \ˈstrōk\
Function: noun
: 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, see hemorrhagic stroke ischemic stroke little stroke
Learn more: Steps You Can Take to Prevent Stroke

 

Xanthoma

xan*tho*ma
Pronunciation: \zan-ˈthō-mə\
Function: noun
pl -mas
also -ma*ta
Pronunciation: \-mət-ə\
: 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

 

Copyright 2010. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Inc.