renin
Blood pressure regulator
Renin is an enzyme produced by the kidneys that plays a central role in regulating blood pressure.
It initiates a hormonal cascade—the renin-angiotensin system—that constricts blood vessels and prompts the body to retain sodium and water.
Doctors measure renin levels to diagnose certain types of hypertension: The patient's elevated renin suggested a kidney-related cause.
Blood-filtering organ
- nephronKidney's filtration unit
- glomerulusCapillary knot filtering blood
- afferent arterioleBlood vessel entering glomerulus
- nephrologyKidney disease medicine
filtration · water retention · electrolyte · urination · GFR · tubule · kidney disease · nephropathy
Chronic elevated arterial pressure
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- aldosteroneAdrenal hormone controlling electrolytes
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- antihypertensiveMedication lowering blood pressure
ACE inhibitor · beta-blocker · systolic · diastolic · blood vessel · artery · circulation · cardiovascular
Protein-cleaving enzyme
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- catalystAgent enabling change
- peptideShort amino acid chain
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
secretion · biosynthesis · activation · enzymatic · hydrolysis · precursor · zymogen
Official rules governing conduct
- feedbackReturned response data
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
- antidiuretic hormonePituitary peptide reducing urination
compensatory · adaptive · steady-state · electrolyte balance · negative feedback
kidney
Blood-filtering organ
- nephronKidney's filtration unit
- glomerulusCapillary knot filtering blood
- afferent arterioleBlood vessel entering glomerulus
nephrology · filtration · water retention · electrolyte · urination · GFR · tubule · kidney disease · nephropathy
hypertension
Chronic elevated arterial pressure
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- aldosteroneAdrenal hormone controlling electrolytes
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
antihypertensive · ACE inhibitor · beta-blocker · systolic · diastolic · blood vessel · artery · circulation · cardiovascular · hypotensive
protease
Protein-cleaving enzyme
cleavage · secretion · biosynthesis · activation · enzymatic · hydrolysis · precursor · zymogen
regulation
Official rules governing conduct
- feedbackReturned response data
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
antidiuretic hormone · compensatory · adaptive · steady-state · electrolyte balance · negative feedback
- renal systemOrgans filtering blood waste
- renal failureLoss of kidney function
- renal cell carcinomaKidney's most common malignancy
- renal arteryVessel supplying kidney blood