| adreno- | Relating to the adrenal gland. Origin: L. Ad, to, near, + renes, the kidneys, + -o-+ -alis, pertaining to (05 Mar 2000) |
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| adrenoceptive | Referring to chemical sites in effectors with which the adrenergic mediator unites. Compare: cholinoceptive. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenoceptor | Reactive components of effector tissues, most of which are innervated by adrenergic postganglionic fibres of the sympathetic nervous system. Such receptor's can be activated by norepinephrine and/or epinephrine and by various adrenergic drugs; receptor activation results in a change in effector tissue function, such as contraction of arteriolar muscles or relaxation of bronchial muscles; adrenergic receptor's are divided into alpha-receptor's and beta-receptor's, on the basis of their response to various adrenergic activating and blocking agents. Synonym: adrenoceptor, adrenoreceptors. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenochrome | <chemical> 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-1h-indole-5,6-dione. Pigment obtained by the oxidation of epinephrine. Chemical name: 1H-Indole-5,6-dione, 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-1-methyl- (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenocortical | Pertaining to suprarenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocortical adenoma | <tumour> A benign tumour of adrenal cortical cells; small unencapuslated nodules of adrenal cortex are probably localised areas of hyperplasia rather than adenoma's; true adenoma's are rare and may be symptomless or associated with Cushing's syndrome or primary aldosteronism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocortical hormones | Hormone's secreted by the human adrenal cortex; e.g., cortisol, aldosterone, corticosterone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocortical insufficiency | Loss, to varying degrees, of adrenocortical function. Synonym: hypocorticoidism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticoid | <drug, endocrinology, pharmacology> Any of the steroids elaborated by the adrenal cortex (excluding the sex hormones of adrenal origin) in response to the release of adrenocorticotrophin or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland, to any of the synthetic equivalents of these steroids or to angiotensin II. They are divided, according to their predominant biological activity, into three major groups: glucocorticoids (e.g. Cortisol, cortisone), chiefly influencing carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, mineralocorticoids (for example aldosterone), affecting the regulation of electrolyte and water balance and C19 androgens. Some corticosteroids exhibit both types of activity in varying degrees and others exert only one type of effect. The corticosteroids are used clinically for hormonal replacement therapy, for suppression of ACTH secretion by the anterior pituitary, as antineoplastic, antiallergic and anti-inflammatory agents and to suppress the immune response. Synonym: adrenocortical hormone, corticoid. (13 Nov 1997) |
| adrenocorticomimetic | Mimicking or producing effects similar to adrenocortical function. Origin: adrenal + cortex + G. Minetikos, imitating (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotrophic | Stimulating growth of the adrenal cortex or secretion of its hormones. Synonym: adrenotropic, adrenotrophic. Origin: adrenal cortex + G. Trophe, nurture; trope, a turning (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotrophic hormone | <endocrinology> A peptide hormone that is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. It stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoid hormones, which help cells synthesise glucose, catabolize proteins, mobilizefree fatty acids and inhibit inflammation in allergic responses. (10 May 1997) |
| adrenocorticotropic | Stimulating growth of the adrenal cortex or secretion of its hormones. Synonym: adrenotropic, adrenotrophic. Origin: adrenal cortex + G. Trophe, nurture; trope, a turning (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotropic hormone | The hormone of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis which governs the nutrition and growth of the adrenal cortex, stimulates it to functional activity, and also possesses extraadrenal adipokinetic activity; it is a polypeptide containing 39 amino acids, but exact structure varies from one species to another; sometimes prefixed by a to distinguish it from beta-corticotropin. The first thirteen amino acids at the N-terminal region are identical to alpha-melanotropin. Synonym: adrenocorticotropin, adrenotropic hormone, adrenotropin, corticotropic hormone, corticotropin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotropic releasing factor | Hormone produced by hypothalamus that causes pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |