Glossary
Terms, defined plainly
Educational definitions only — no procedural or individualized instructions.
- mgmilligram
- A unit of mass (weight). On a vial, mg describes the total mass of compound present — for example, a 10 MG vial contains 10 milligrams of compound. It does not describe liquid volume.
- mcgmicrogram
- A microgram is one-thousandth of a milligram (1 mg = 1000 mcg). It is a smaller unit of mass.
- mLmilliliter
- A unit of liquid volume. Reconstitution volume (how much liquid is added to a vial) is measured in mL. Volume (mL) and mass (mg) are different measurements.
- unitsyringe unit
- On an insulin-style syringe, 'units' are volume markings (100 units = 1 mL on a U-100 syringe). Units are a way of reading volume on that particular syringe, not a measure of compound mass.
- subcutaneousunder the skin
- Refers to the layer of tissue just beneath the skin. Used here only as a general anatomical/terminology definition, not as an instruction to administer anything.
- lyophilizedfreeze-dried
- A preservation method that removes water to leave a dry powder or cake, improving stability. Many research peptides are supplied lyophilized.
- bacteriostaticgrowth-inhibiting
- Describes a solution (often containing benzyl alcohol) designed to inhibit bacterial growth. It is a laboratory/reconstitution term; specifics of use belong to product documentation and qualified professionals.
- reconstitutionadding liquid to powder
- The general laboratory concept of dissolving a lyophilized (dry) compound in a liquid. This platform explains the concept but does not generate reconstitution calculators or personalized volumes.
- half-lifetime to halve
- The time it takes for the amount of a substance in a system to decrease by half. A pharmacokinetic concept used to describe how long compounds persist.
- peptideshort protein chain
- A short chain of amino acids linked together. Peptides are smaller than full proteins and act as signaling molecules in biology.
- amino acidprotein building block
- The basic building blocks that link together to form peptides and proteins.
- receptorcell docking site
- A protein, often on a cell surface, that a signaling molecule binds to in order to produce an effect.
- agonistreceptor activator
- A molecule that binds a receptor and activates it, producing a biological response. (An antagonist blocks the receptor instead.)
- GLP-1incretin hormone
- Glucagon-like peptide-1, a gut hormone that influences insulin release, gastric emptying, and appetite signaling. A well-studied part of the incretin system.
- GIPincretin hormone
- Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, another incretin hormone that works alongside GLP-1 in metabolic signaling.
- glucagonblood-sugar hormone
- A hormone that raises blood glucose, balancing the effects of insulin. Part of the body's metabolic regulation.
- IGF-1growth factor
- Insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone influenced by growth hormone that mediates many of growth hormone's downstream effects.
- GHRHgrowth-hormone-releasing hormone
- A signaling hormone that prompts the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of GHRH.