What are prostaglandins?

Prostaglandins come from the word prostate and the Latin word glandula: gland. Their name is based on the opinion that they occur exclusively in the prostate. However, today is known that they occur in almost all tissues. Prostaglandins are unsaturated fatty acids, which consist of 20 carbon atoms (including a five-membered carbon ring) and are formed from arachidonic acid. They act at the site of origin (locally), which means that they do not enter the bloodstream. Some of their most important functions are: stimulating inflammatory reactions, raising body temperature, increasing or decreasing blood flow, and stimulating childbirth.