What is the Origin of Chylomicron?

The term derives from the Greek words chylos, meaning juice or fluid, referring to the milky fluid (chyle) found in the lymphatic vessels after a fatty meal, and micros, meaning small. This etymology accurately reflects its function as a microscopic fat-carrying particle within the chyle.

What is the Mechanism of Chylomicron?

Following absorption, dietary triglycerides and cholesterol are packaged with specific apolipoproteins within the enterocytes to form chylomicrons. These particles are then released into the lymphatic system before entering the systemic circulation via the thoracic duct. Lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme anchored to the capillary walls, hydrolyzes the triglycerides within the chylomicron, releasing free fatty acids for energy or storage in peripheral tissues like muscle and adipose tissue.

Chylomicron

Meaning

A large lipoprotein particle synthesized in the intestinal cells, specifically designed for the transport of dietary fats, including triglycerides and cholesterol, from the digestive system into the bloodstream. These particles are the largest and least dense of the lipoproteins, playing a critical role in lipid metabolism immediately following a meal. Their transient presence in the circulation is a normal part of fat assimilation.