any of a class of extracellular proteins abundant in higher animals, esp. in the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibers and serving as connective tissue between cells, yielding gelatin when denatured by boiling.
col·la·gen (kŏl'ə-jən) n. The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue. It is converted into gelatin by boiling.
Main Entry: col·la·gen Pronunciation: 'käl-&-j&n Function: noun : an insoluble fibrous protein of vertebrates that is the chiefconstituent of the fibrils of connective tissue (as in skin and tendons) and of the organic substance of bones and yields gelatin and glue on prolonged heating with water —col·la·gen·ic/"käl-&-'jen-ik/adjective —col·lag·e·nous/k&-'laj-&-n&s/adjective
collagen col·la·gen (kŏl'ə-jən) n. The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue that converts into gelatin by boiling.