G
- gallbladder
- A sac-like component of the biliary system of the liver that stores bile.
- gallstones
- Concretions or "stones" that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts. Usually composed of precipitated cholesterol.
- gametes
- Sperm or eggs.
- gas constant
- A constant equal to 0.82 liter-atmosphere/degree-mole
- gastric
- Referring to the stomach.
- gastric inhibitory peptide
- A peptide hormone produced in the small intestine that inhibits gastric motility and secretion.
- gastrin
- A peptide hormone secreted by cells in the stomach that stimulates secretion of acid into the lumen of the stomach.
- geep
- A type of artificially-produced chimera that is part goat and part sheep.
- germ cells
- Sperm and eggs, and their progenitor cells.
- germinate
- To become a naturalized German citizen (from an 11-year-old's science test).
- ghrelin
- A peptide hormone produced predominantly by the stomach.
- giantism
- A disease state associated with excessive production of growth hormone which is initiated in young animals or children.
- gizzard
- The non-glandular, grinding stomach of birds. Also known as the ventriculus.
- glicentin
- A biologically-inactive peptide generated in the small intestine from proglucagon.
- glucagon
- A protein hormone produced by the pancreas that has important effects in regulation of carbohydrate metabolism.
- glucagon-like peptides
- Two peptides derived from proglucagon that are produced in the intestine: GLP-1 and GLP-2.
- glucocorticoid
- A type of steroid hormone synthesized and secreted from the adrenal cortex. The major glucocorticoid in most animals is cortisol.
- gluconeogenesis
- A metabolic pathway in which non-hexose substrates (amino acids, lipids) are converted to glucose ("formation of new glucose"); occurs predominantly in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in kidney.
- glucose
- A simple sugar or monosaccharide that serves as a major fuel source for cells.
- glucose transporters
- Membrane proteins that transport glucose and other hexoses into and out of cells.
- GLUT1, 2, ...
- A family of faciltative hexose transporters.
- goblet cell
- A type of cell that secretes mucus. Found in abundance in the gastrointestinal and respiratory epithelium.
- goiter
- A pathologic enlargement of the thyroid gland, often associated with inadequate production of thyroid hormones.
- gonadotropin
- A term used to describe luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, hormones secreted from the anterior pituitary gland that control several aspects of reproductive function.
- gonadotropin-releasing hormone
- A peptide hormone secreted from the hypothalamus that stimulates secretion of the gonadotropins luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.
- Graves disease
- A form of hyperthyroidism or excessive secretion of thyroid hormones associated with antoimmunity.
- growth hormone
- A protein hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary that has potent metabolic and growth-promoting activities.
Last updated on 1/17/2005