ACTH
|A-C-T-H|
C1
/ˌeɪ.siːˈtiː.eɪtʃ/
hormone stimulating adrenal cortex
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ACTH' originates from the abbreviation of 'Adrenocorticotropic Hormone', where 'adreno-' refers to the adrenal glands, 'cortico-' refers to the cortex, and '-tropic' means 'stimulating'.
Historical Evolution
'Adrenocorticotropic Hormone' was abbreviated to 'ACTH' in the 20th century as medical terminology became more standardized.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it was simply a scientific term for a hormone, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol and other hormones.
The doctor measured the patient's ACTH levels to assess adrenal function.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/21 07:54