Word parts
lip/o fatprotein
What it means
Fats do not mix with blood, so they travel wrapped in protein. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries cholesterol to the tissues and can leave it in artery walls, so it is often called "bad" cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol back to the liver and is called "good" cholesterol. A lipid panel measures them.
Remember it
HDL is Healthy; LDL is Lousy.
At a glance
| Spanish | lipoproteína |
|---|---|
| Also written | lipoproteins |
Related terms
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
ather/o
A word root that means fatty plaque, the soft fatty buildup that can form inside arteries.