human chorionic gonadotropin

human chorionic gonadotropin   n.   Abbr. HCG A hormone produced by the placenta that maintains the corpus luteum during pregnancy.

Main Entry: human chorionic gonadotropin
Function: noun
: a glycoprotein hormone similar in structure to luteinizing hormone that is secreted by the placenta during earlypregnancy to maintain corpus luteum function and stimulate placental progesterone production, is found in the urine and blood serum of pregnant women, is commonly tested for as an indicator ofpregnancy, is used medically to induce ovulation and to treat male hypogonadism and cryptorchidism, and is produced in certain cancers (as of the testes) —abbreviation HCG

chorionic gonadotropin n.
Abbr. CG
A glycoprotein that is produced by the placenta and is excreted in the urine of pregnant women, and that acts to stimulate ovarian secretion of the estrogen and progesterone that are required to maintain the conceptus; it is used as an aid for conception and in the treatment of cryptorchidism. Also called anterior pituitary-like hormone, chorionic gonadotropic hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin.

human chorionic gonadotropin   A glycoprotein hormone that is produced by the placenta and maintains the corpus luteum during the first few weeks of pregnancy.