aldosterone
Meaning of aldosterone: Aldosterone is a hormone from the adrenal gland that regulates blood pressure by controlling how the kidneys retain sodium and release potassium.
Definition of aldosterone
Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidneys. It belongs to a group of hormones called mineralocorticoids, named for their role in regulating minerals such as sodium and potassium.
Aldosterone acts on the kidneys to increase the retention of sodium and, with it, water, while promoting the release of potassium from the body. Through this action, it plays a central role in regulating blood volume and blood pressure, working as part of a broader hormonal system that also involves the kidneys and a related hormone, angiotensin.
Excessive aldosterone production, whether from an adrenal gland abnormality or another underlying cause, can result in high blood pressure and disturbances in sodium and potassium levels, while insufficient aldosterone can cause the opposite pattern, including low blood pressure and elevated potassium.
Used in a sentence
Blood testing measured aldosterone levels as part of the evaluation for the patient's high blood pressure.
Good to know
Aldosterone's effect on both sodium retention and potassium release means that either excessive or insufficient aldosterone activity can disturb blood pressure and blood potassium levels simultaneously, rather than affecting just one in isolation.