Dictionary.net

Derivatives of phosphatidic acids in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a choline moiety. Complete hydrolysis yields 1 mole of glycerol, phosphoric acid and choline and 2 moles of fatty acids.

One of a number of complex bodies, compounds of chlorine with glycerophosphoric acid and fatty acids, found in nervous tissue, blood, milk, yolk of egg, and other animal structures, as well as in vegetable organisms; vegetable lecithin is said to contain betaine instead of choline. Lecithin, as used in medicine, is prepared from the yolk of egg by abstracting with alcohol; it occurs as a brownish yellow substance of waxy consistency, insoluble in water, but soluble in absolute alcohol and fatty oils. Employed in cases of faulty nutrition in doses of gr. 1/2-2 (0.03-0.13).

A certain cerebral substance.

A phosphorized fat of cell-protoplasm.

Fatty principle, C44H90NPO9, found in animal tissues; also, any principle of the group to which normal lecithin belongs.

A term for a class of bodies derived from the tissues of the brain and nerves, from amniotic fluid, from yolk of egg, from bile, from spermatozooids, and from certain vegetable substances. All are derivatives of glycerin, formed by the substitution of the molecules of 2 fatty acid radicles for 2 molecules of hydroxyl, while the third molecule of hydroxyl is replaced by a molecule of neurin in combination with phosphoric acid. Upon boiling in alkalis or baryta water the l's are hydrolyzed to fatty acids, glycerin, phosphoric acid, and cholin. Intermediate products, such as glycerin and phosphoric acid, have also been isolated. [Gr.]