/ok"seuh loh euh see"tik, ok'-, ok sal"oh-, -sal'-/ , Biochem.
a crystalline organic acid, C 4 H 4 O 5 , that is an important intermediate in the Krebs cycle, where it is formed by the oxidation of malic acid and is acetylated to form citric acid: also a product of transamination reactions of aspartic acid.
[ 1895-1900; OXAL(IC) + -O- + ACETIC ACID ]