Polysaccharides
Definition
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides.
Analogy
If monosaccharides are the building blocks (like Lego bricks), then polysaccharides are like the completed Lego structures - they're made up of many smaller pieces joined together.
Related terms
Starch: This is a type of polysaccharide that plants use to store glucose for future energy needs.
Glycogen: This is a type of polysaccharide that animals, including humans, use to store glucose in the liver and muscles for future energy needs.
Cellulose: A structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls. Humans cannot digest cellulose but it aids in dietary fiber.
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