Gas Exchange in the Respiratory System - Duration: 40:07. Aaron Mullally 7,315 views
Definition of POLYSACCHARIDE. : a carbohydrate that can be decomposed by hydrolysis into two or more molecules of monosaccharides; especially: one (as cellulose, starch, or glycogen) containing many monosaccharide units and marked by complexity. See polysaccharide defined for kids.ADVERTISEMENT.edical Definition of POLYSACCHARIDE. : a carbohydrate that can be decomposed by hydrolysis into two or more molecules of monosaccharides; especially: one (as cellulose, starch, or glycogen) containing many monosaccharide units and marked by complexityâcalled also glycan.
Polysaccharides ( poly, means many) are important energy-storage and structural molecules. They are formed of long chains of sugars, most commonly glucose. Like oligosaccharides, they may be linear or branched. Important polysaccharides are starch, glycogen (animal starch), cellulose , and chitin . Starch and glycogen are similar energy-storage molecules found in plants and animals, respectively.