Definition

A basic unit of collagen, made up of three twisted chains of proteins that form the structure of collagen fibers.

Example

Tropocollagen is essential for the strength and flexibility of connective tissues in the body.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of tropocollagen?

Yeah, I think it's something to do with collagen fibers, right?

Exactly! It's like the building block of collagen in our bodies.

That's fascinating! I didn't realize how important it was.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tropocollagen is formed from "tropo-" (from Greek "tropos", meaning turn or change) and "collagen" (from Greek "kolla", meaning glue, and "genes", meaning producing). The term refers to the basic structural unit of collagen, which is a protein that provides support and strength to tissues, thus indicating a change or turn in the structure of connective tissues.

Memory Tip

Think of 'tropo-' meaning a change or turn, and 'collagen' being the glue that holds our body together. This helps you remember that tropocollagen is the fundamental unit that changes and supports our connective tissues.

Visually Confused Words