The difference between zymogen and zymogen activation is that zymogen is a substance and zymogen activation is a process.
Enzymogen is the precursor of an enzyme that is not catalyzed and inactive, and is a protein, such as trypsinogen and thrombospondin. It can only be activated at specific sites, environments, and conditions to manifest itself.
Activation of zymogen is the process of converting zymogen into active enzyme action, i.e. from inactive to active. Activation of zymogen has important significance: it can protect tissues and organs from being destroyed by their own enzymes. It is activated at specific sites and under specific conditions to fulfill its physiological role.
For example, trypsinogen is activated in the small intestine and becomes trypsin, which facilitates the digestion of food proteins. Plasminogen is activated to become thrombin when tissues or blood vessels are damaged, and participates in the blood clotting process.
Of course, abnormalities in the activation of zymogen can lead to a range of diseases.