Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist

Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist

The Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist (pronunciation: al-fa too ad-ren-er-jik re-sep-tor a-go-nist) is a type of Pharmacological agent that acts upon the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor.

Etymology

The term is derived from the Greek words alpha (α), meaning 'first', and adrenergic, referring to the adrenaline (epinephrine) system in the body. The term agonist comes from the Late Latin agonista, 'competitor', from Greek agōnistēs, 'combatant, actor, contestant', from agōn, 'contest, struggle'.

Function

Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists are used in the treatment of various medical conditions such as Hypertension, Glaucoma, and certain Mental disorders. They work by stimulating the alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, which results in a decrease in the activity of the Sympathetic nervous system. This leads to a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate.

Related Terms

• Adrenergic receptor
• Agonist
• Sympathetic nervous system
• Hypertension
• Glaucoma
• Mental disorders

See Also

• Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor
• Beta adrenergic receptor
• Adrenergic antagonist

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