-ronґan) a glycosaminoglycan found in lubricating proteoglycans of synovial fluid, vitreous humor, cartilage, blood vessels, skin, and the umbilical cord. It is a linear chain of about 2500 repeating disaccharide units in specific linkage, each composed of an N-acetylglucosamine residue linked to one of glucuronic acid. A preparation extracted from chicken combs is used for the treatment of pain in osteoarthritis, administered by intra-articular injection. It is also used as an adjunct, injected into the anterior or posterior chamber during surgical procedures on the eye to maintain the shape of the eye, to manipulate and separate tissues by hydraulic pressure, and to protect intraocular structures from trauma. Called also hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid. See also hylan.
Medical dictionary. 2011.