Aldosterone

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ælˈdɒstəɹəʊn/

Definitions

1. A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, this steroid is essential for regulating electrolyte balance, particularly sodium and potassium, which in turn helps control blood pressure and volume
2. This particular steroid hormone is crucial for maintaining fluid homeostasis and blood pressure by acting on the kidneys to manage mineral levels and excretion
3. A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex plays a vital role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance by influencing sodium and potassium retention in the kidneys

Etymology: Aldosterone is a modern coinage, not an ancient one: it was named in the 1950s, when chemists were sorting out the many steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands. The name is built from two pieces. "Aldo-" points to the chemical family of aldehydes, because the molecule carries an aldehyde group, and "-sterone" is the standard ending for steroid hormones, as in testosterone and progesterone. The name was modelled on the German "Aldosteron," so the word reached English through German-speaking researchers' terminology rather than through an older Latin or Greek root. Its clipped form tells you what the molecule is: a steroid with an aldehyde group, a chemical identity that matters because it drives the hormone's job of holding onto sodium and releasing potassium.