HDL cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol (pronounced as H-D-L cholesterol), also known as High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol, is a type of cholesterol that is often referred to as the "good" cholesterol.
Pronunciation
HDL cholesterol is pronounced as "aitch-dee-el kuh-les-ter-ol".
Etymology
The term "HDL cholesterol" is derived from the full term "High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol". The term "High-Density" refers to the fact that this type of cholesterol is denser than other types of cholesterol due to its higher protein content. "Lipoprotein" is a compound word derived from "lipid", which is another word for fat, and "protein". "Cholesterol" is derived from the Ancient Greek words "chole" (bile) and "stereos" (solid), and the chemical suffix "-ol" for an alcohol.
Definition
HDL cholesterol is a type of cholesterol that carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack.
Related Terms
- Cholesterol: A waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body.
- Lipoprotein: Any of a group of soluble proteins that combine with and transport fat or other lipids in the blood plasma.
- Liver: The largest internal organ in the body; its main functions are to metabolize most of the nutrients that are absorbed by the intestine.
- Heart Attack: A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on HDL cholesterol
- Wikipedia's article - HDL cholesterol
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