Angiotensinogen

Angiotensinogen (pronounced an·gio·ten·sin·o·gen) is a protein produced and released by the liver. It is a part of the RAS that regulates blood pressure.

Etymology

The term "Angiotensinogen" is derived from the words "angio" meaning vessel, "tensin" meaning tension, and "gen" meaning producing. It is thus named because it is a precursor to angiotensin, a peptide hormone that causes vasoconstriction and a subsequent increase in blood pressure.

Function

Angiotensinogen is a part of the RAS, which is a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. When the body has low blood pressure, the kidneys release an enzyme called Renin. Renin then acts on angiotensinogen, splitting it into angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is then converted into angiotensin II by an enzyme called ACE. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor, which means it narrows the blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

Related Terms

Renin: An enzyme released by the kidneys that acts on angiotensinogen.
Angiotensin: A peptide hormone that regulates vasoconstriction and blood pressure.
ACE: An enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
RAS: A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Angiotensinogen
Wikipedia's article - Angiotensinogen

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Angiotensinogen