alpha-fetoprotein

al·pha-fe·to·pro·tein

A a

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [al-fuh-fee-toh-proh-teen, -tee-in]
- /ˈæl fə ˌfē-tō-ˈprō-ˌtēn, -ˈprō-tē-ən/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [al-fuh-fee-toh-proh-teen, -tee-in]
- /ˈæl fə ˌfē-tō-ˈprō-ˌtēn, -ˈprō-tē-ən/

Definitions of alpha-fetoprotein word

noun alpha-fetoprotein a protein that forms in the liver of the human fetus. Excessive quantities in the amniotic fluid and maternal blood may indicate spina bifida in the fetus; low levels may point to Down's syndrome 3
noun alpha-fetoprotein a protein in the blood of a normal fetus, occasionally reappearing in an adult, where its presence indicates the possibility of disease or, in a pregnant woman, of fetal malformations 3
noun alpha-fetoprotein a serum protein produced during pregnancy, useful in the prenatal diagnosis of multiple births or birth defects. Abbreviation: AFP. 1

See all 3 definitions of alpha-fetoprotein

Information block about the term

Origin of alpha-fetoprotein

First appearance:

before 1970

One of the 2% newest English words

First recorded in 1970-75; alpha + fet(us) + -o- + protein

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Alpha-fetoprotein

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Alpha-fetoprotein

alpha-fetoprotein popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 2% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data about 58% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

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