Albumin is a protein that is found in the blood plasma of humans and animals. It is responsible for maintaining the osmotic pressure of the blood, transporting hormones, fatty acids, and drugs, and binding and transporting various substances such as calcium, copper, and zinc. In this article, we will discuss the definition, origin, meaning, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and examples of albumin.
Definitions
Albumin is a water-soluble protein that is found in the blood plasma of humans and animals. It is the most abundant protein in the blood plasma, accounting for about 60% of the total protein. The word albumin comes from the Latin word ‘albus’, which means white, referring to its color when it is isolated from the blood plasma.
Origin
Albumin was first discovered in 1837 by the French chemist and physiologist, Francois Magendie. He isolated the protein from the blood plasma of dogs and found that it was responsible for maintaining the osmotic pressure of the blood. Since then, albumin has been extensively studied and used in various medical applications.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, albumin is defined as “a protein that is soluble in water, coagulable by heat, and precipitated by weak acids and that occurs in blood serum, egg white, and other animal fluids.” The Oxford English dictionary defines albumin as “a protein present in blood plasma, egg white, and milk.”
Associations
Albumin is associated with various medical conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, malnutrition, and inflammation. A decrease in the level of albumin in the blood plasma is often an indicator of these conditions. Albumin is also used in medical treatments such as blood transfusions, dialysis, and as a plasma expander.
Synonyms
Some of the synonyms of albumin include serum albumin, egg albumin, plasma protein, and globulin.
Antonyms
There are no specific antonyms for albumin, but it can be contrasted with other proteins such as globulin and fibrinogen.
The same root words
The word albumin is derived from the Latin word ‘albus’, which means white. Other words that share the same root include albino, albinism, and album.
Example Sentences
- The level of albumin in his blood plasma was low, indicating liver disease.
- The albumin in egg white is used in various culinary applications.
- The doctor prescribed albumin for the patient’s malnutrition.
- The albumin in his blood was used as a plasma expander during surgery.
- The albumin in her blood was tested to determine her overall health status.