arachidonicacid

ar·a·chi·don·ic acid (ăr'ə-kĭ-dŏnʹĭk) n.

An unsaturated fatty acid, C₂₀H₃₂O₂, found in animal fats, that is essential in human nutrition and is a precursor in the biosynthesis of some prostaglandins.

  [From arachidic, of the groundnut, from New Latin Arachis, groundnut genus, from Greek arakis, arakid- diminutive of arakos, a leguminous plant.]

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