Final answer:
Glycogen, sometimes referred to as animal starch, is the main polysaccharide in the human body, acting as a glucose storage molecule especially in the muscles and liver.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sometimes referred to as animal starch, glycogen is the main polysaccharide in the body. Glycogen is a polymer of glucose and functions as the storage form of energy in animals, especially prevalent in the muscles and liver. It is composed of α-D-glucose units linked by α-1→4 linkages in the linear chains and α-1→6 linkages at the branching points. As a homopolysaccharide, glycogen is a highly branched molecule which allows for rapid release of glucose when energy is required by the body. Even under conditions of severe fasting or starvation, a notable amount of glycogen, at least 5%, is maintained within each cell.