glucagon

Term: glucagon

Literally meaning: “producing sweet ”

Origin: Greek

γλυκός/glycos(=sweet, delightful,) as glycose, an older term for glucose .

+γεννώ/geno(=produce, give birth to)

Coined/History

(?)

Glucose was discovered in 1747 by German chemist Andreas Marrgraf (1709-1782), who isolated it in raisins. In 1838 French chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas (1800-1884) coined the term glucose and finally the structure of molecule was identified by German chemist and recipient of the Nobel Prize Emil Fischer (1852–1919).

Definition

Glucagon is a hormone produced by cells in the islets of Langerhans, having an opposite effect of insulin. The main role of glucagon is to promote glycogenolysis raising the blood glucose levels maintain normal concentrations of glucose in blood .