Angiotensin II
Angiotensin II (pronounced: an·gio·ten·sin | \ ˌan-jē-ō-ˈten(t)-sən \) is a peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in the RAS and regulates blood pressure and fluid balance in the body.
Etymology
The term "Angiotensin" is derived from the words "angio" meaning vessel and "tensin" meaning tension, referring to its vasoconstrictive properties. The "II" denotes that it is the second of two forms of the hormone.
Function
Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. It also stimulates the release of the hormone aldosterone from the adrenal cortex, which promotes sodium retention by the kidneys, further increasing blood pressure.
Production
Angiotensin II is produced from angiotensin I through the action of the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). This process occurs primarily in the lungs but can also take place in other tissues.
Related Terms
- Angiotensin I: The precursor to angiotensin II.
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE): The enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
- Renin: An enzyme that initiates the process leading to the production of angiotensin II.
- Aldosterone: A hormone whose release is stimulated by angiotensin II.
- Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS): The hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Angiotensin II
- Wikipedia's article - Angiotensin II
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski