Definition

Noun: A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. Its primary function is to regulate the body's balance of sodium and potassium, which in turn helps control blood pressure and fluid volume.

Usage

Aldosterone is a specific, scientific term used primarily in medical, biological, and physiological contexts. It is used to discuss endocrine system function, kidney physiology, and conditions related to hormone imbalance.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor explained that high aldosterone levels can lead to hypertension.
  • The kidneys respond to aldosterone by retaining more sodium.
  • A tumor in the adrenal gland can cause an overproduction of aldosterone.

Advanced Usage

• "Aldosterone antagonist": A type of drug (e.g., spironolactone) that blocks the action of aldosterone, often used to treat heart failure or high blood pressure.
  • The patient was prescribed an aldosterone antagonist to manage fluid retention.
• "Aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR)": A key diagnostic test used to screen for primary aldosteronism, a cause of secondary hypertension.
  • An elevated aldosterone-to-renin ratio suggests the patient may have Conn's syndrome.

Variants and Related Words

• Aldosteronism (n): A medical condition characterized by the overproduction of aldosterone by the adrenal glands.
  • Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of secondary hypertension.
• Mineralocorticoid (n): The class of steroid hormones to which aldosterone belongs, so named for their effect on mineral (electrolyte) balance.

Synonyms

• Mineralocorticoid hormone: This is a broader category term; aldosterone is the primary human mineralocorticoid.

Different Meanings

This word has a single, specific meaning in human physiology and medicine. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative uses.

Noun

1. a corticosteroid hormone that is secreted by the cortex of the adrenal gland; regulates salt (sodium and potassium) and water balance