chylomicrons

(noun)

Chylomicrons are one of the five major groups of lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL) that enable fats and cholesterol to move within the water-based solution of the bloodstream.

Related Terms

Examples of chylomicrons in the following topics:

  • Regulation of Blood Cholesterol Levels

    • Chylomicrons, the least dense type of cholesterol transport molecules, contain apolipoprotein B-48, apolipoprotein C, and apolipoprotein E in their shells.
    • Chylomicrons are the transporters that carry fats from the intestine to muscle and other tissues that need fatty acids for energy or fat production.
    • Cholesterol that is not used by muscles remains in more cholesterol-rich chylomicron remnants, which are taken up from here to the bloodstream by the liver.

  • Digestion and Absorption

    • These large spheres are called chylomicrons.
    • Chylomicrons contain triglycerides, cholesterol, and other lipids; they have proteins on their surface.
    • Together, they enable the chylomicron to move in an aqueous environment without exposing the lipids to water.
    • Chylomicrons leave the absorptive cells via exocytosis, entering the lymphatic vessels.

  • Functions of the Lymphatic System

    • During fat digestion, many fatty acids are digested, emulsified, and converted within intestinal cells into a lipoprotein called chylomicrons.
    • Lymph drainage vessels that line the intestine are called lacteals, and absorb the chylomicrons into lymph fluid.
    • The lymph vessels then take the chylomicrons into blood circulation where they react with HDL cholesterols and are then broken down in the liver.

  • Absorptive State

    • Chylomicrons are lipoprotein particles that consist of triglycerides (85-92%), phospholipids (6-12%), cholesterol (1-3%) and proteins (1-2%).