Chemicals and Drugs

Heparin

A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Heparinic Acid
  • Unfractionated Heparin
  • Heparin, Unfractionated
  • Heparin Sodium
  • Liquaemin
  • Sodium Heparin
  • alpha-Heparin
  • Heparin, Sodium
  • alpha Heparin

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

/therapeutic use was HEPARIN, THERAPEUTIC 1965

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 193

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Heparin. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D006493. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D006493
  2. Heparin. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heparin
  3. Heparin. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q190016