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Glite Dictionary
adrenocorticotropic hormone

adrenocorticotropic hormone

6.6
A hormone made by a gland in the brain that tells the adrenal glands to make stress hormones
  • noun
  • /əˌdrɛnəˌkɔrtɪˈkoʊtrəpɪk ˈhɔrmoʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hormona adrenocorticotrópica
  • The adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulates the adrenal cortex to release steroid hormones.

Examples

  • The doctor ordered a blood test to check her adrenocorticotropic hormone levels.

  • The adrenocorticotropic hormone regulates cortisol production.

  • Low adrenocorticotropic hormone production can lead to adrenal insufficiency.

  • Researchers studied how stress affects secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the participants.

  • Increased levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone can lead to stress.

  • The doctor ordered a blood test to check her adrenocorticotropic hormone levels.

  • Research has shown that low adrenocorticotropic hormone production can result in adrenal insufficiency.

Synonyms

ACTH
vsadrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Specialized
2 7.2

A hormone made by the front of the pituitary gland that tells the adrenal glands to make stress hormones

refers more broadly to stimulation of steroid hormones rather than only corticosteroids
corticotropin
vsadrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A hormone from a small gland at the brain base that tells adrenal glands to make stress hormones

is the broader term for stimulating steroid hormones rather than naming specific corticosteroids
adrenocorticotrophic hormone
vsadrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Specialized
6.9

A hormone from the front part of the pituitary gland that tells the adrenal gland to make stress hormones

has identical meaning but is written with the other spelling
adrenocorticotropin
vsadrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Specialized
9.4

A hormone made by a gland in the brain that tells the glands above the kidneys to release stress hormones

focuses on steroid hormones broadly rather than only the corticosteroid subgroup
adrenocorticotrophin
vsadrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Specialized
9.9

A hormone from the pituitary gland that tells the adrenal gland to release stress hormones

is specifically about stimulating steroid production rather than vague hormone release

Surface Forms

adrenocorticotropic hormone singular
adrenocorticotropic hormones plural

Morphology

adrenocorticotropic + hormone

The term is compositionally built: 'adrenocorticotropic' literally encodes 'acting on/stimulating the adrenal cortex' and combined with 'hormone' yields 'a hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex'. Although technical, the morphology follows regular medical/Latinate formation found across languages, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the MWE's function.

Etymology

Adrenocorticotropic hormone breaks into parts: adreno, meaning the 'adrenal' gland near the kidney; cortico, meaning the 'cortex' or the gland's 'outer layer'; and tropic, meaning to 'make something act'. So it is a hormone that 'tells' the adrenal cortex to release other hormones, and that's why the name fits its modern meaning.