sphingomyelin

[ sfing-goh-mahy-uh-lin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of the class of phospholipids occurring chiefly in the brain and spinal cord, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, sphingosine, and a fatty acid.

sphingomyelin

/ ˌsfɪŋɡəʊˈmaɪəlɪn /

noun

1. biochem any of a group of phospholipids, derived from sphingosine, that occur in biological membranes, being especially abundant in the brain

Word History and Origins

Origin of sphingomyelin¹

< New Latin sphingo-, combining form representing Greek sphíngein to draw tight + myelin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sphingomyelin¹

from sphingo-, from Greek sphingein to bind + myelin