Glycocholic acid

Glycocholic acid (pronunciation: gly-co-cho-lic acid) is a bile acid that is synthesized in the liver from cholesterol. It is a conjugated bile acid, meaning it is combined with a glycine molecule.

Etymology

The term "Glycocholic acid" is derived from the Greek words "glykys" meaning sweet, "chole" meaning bile, and "ic acid" denoting it as an acid.

Function

Glycocholic acid plays a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats in the small intestine. It acts as a detergent to emulsify fats and make them more accessible to digestive enzymes.

Related Terms

• Bile Acid
• Cholesterol
• Liver
• Glycine
• Digestion
• Small Intestine
• Detergent
• Digestive Enzymes

See Also

• Taurocholic acid
• Cholic acid
• Deoxycholic acid

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Glycocholic acid
• Wikipedia's article - Glycocholic acid

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