Definition

Noun: 1. A vasoconstrictor substance: A substance that causes the narrowing of blood vessels, leading to an increase in blood pressure. This is a specific, dated term for a peptide now more commonly known as angiotensin.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Early research identified angiotonin as a key factor in regulating arterial pressure.
  • The experiment measured the hypertensive effect of the purified angiotonin.

Advanced Usage

• "angiotonin-converting enzyme (ACE)": This is a historical term for the enzyme now universally known as . It is crucial in the biochemical pathway that produces the active form of the substance.
  • Inhibition of the angiotonin-converting enzyme is a common treatment for hypertension.

Variants and Related Words

• Angiotensin (n): The modern and standard term for this peptide hormone. is an older synonym.
  • The renin-angiotensin system is vital for blood pressure control.
• Hypertensin (n): A former trade name for this substance, sometimes used synonymously with in older literature.

Synonyms

• Angiotensin: The direct and current synonym.
• Vasoconstrictor: A general term for any substance that narrows blood vessels. is a specific type of vasoconstrictor.

Notes on Meaning

This word is primarily of historical and technical interest. In modern medical and scientific English, the term angiotensin has completely replaced angiotonin. You will encounter angiotonin almost exclusively in older textbooks or research papers. The reference to the trade name "Hypertensin" is also historical.

Noun

1. any of several vasoconstrictor substances (trade name Hypertensin) that cause narrowing of blood vessels