prostaglandin

noun

pros·​ta·​glan·​din ˌprä-stə-ˈglan-dən 

: 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

Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by highly active prostaglandins, the chemicals that cause the uterus to contract during the menstrual cycle, Amies Oelschlager said. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Advil may irritate the gastric lining of the stomach acid due to the inhibition of prostaglandins that protect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lining. —Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2024

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example, target and reduce the amount of prostaglandins that your body makes, which will make your cramps less severe, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG). —Cory Stieg, refinery29.com, 12 Mar. 2024

By reducing prostaglandin levels, NSAIDs can weaken the stomach's natural defenses against digestive acids. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

prostaglandin

noun

pros·​ta·​glan·​din ˌpräs-tə-ˈglan-dən 

: 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)