noun
Medical and biochemical term for the structural protein found in connective tissues. Often replaced by the loanword コラーゲン in everyday contexts.
See also: コラーゲン
膠原質は皮膚や骨に多く含まれるタンパク質です。
Collagen is a protein found abundantly in skin and bones.
Common loanword for collagen, used in everyday conversation, cosmetics, and supplements. 膠原質 is the formal Sino-Japanese term used mainly in medical or academic writing.
Sino-Japanese compound from 膠 (glue, gelatin) + 原 (source, origin) + 質 (substance, quality), literally 'gelatin-source substance'. Coined as a translation of the German 'Kollagen' or English 'collagen'.