arachidonic acid /arach·i·don·ic acid/ (ah-rak″ĭ-don´ik) a polyunsaturated 20-carbon essential fatty acid occurring in animal fats and formed by biosynthesis from linoleic acid; it is a precursor to leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxane.
arachidonic acid
arachidonic acid (ar´
kdon´ik),
ar·a·chi·don·ic acid ( r  -k -d n k)n. An unsaturated fatty acid found in animal fats that is essential in human nutrition and is a precursor in the biosynthesis of some prostaglandins. |
arachidonic acid
[ar′əkidon′ik]
Etymology: L, arachos, a legume
a long-chain fatty acid that is a component of lecithin and a basic material in the biosynthesis of some prostaglandins. In mammals, arachidonic acid is synthesized from linoleic acid.
arachidonic acid (ar´
kdon´ik),n an essential fatty acid that is a com-ponent of lecithin and a basic material for the biosynthesis of some prostaglandins.
Arachnia propionica,
n an opportunistic, naturally occurring organism in the body, especially in body cavities and on the skin. It is sometimes implicated in actinomycosis, especially in open wounds.
arachidonic acid
twenty carbon fatty acid containing four double bonds of the n-6 family essential fatty acids from which prostaglandins, thromboxane and leukotrienes are derived. Deficiency, which is characterized by hair loss, fatty liver degeneration, anemia and reduced fertility, occurs most commonly in cats because of their inability to synthesize arachidonic acid from linoleic acid.
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