ACTH

[ ey-see-tee-eych ]

abbreviation, noun
  1. Biochemistry. a polypeptide hormone, produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, that stimulates the cortex of adrenal glands.

  2. Pharmacology. this substance, extracted from the pituitary glands of hogs and other species, in the form of its white, water-soluble powder, used for the diagnosis of diseases that impair the adrenal glands.

Origin of ACTH

1
First recorded in 1940–45; a(dreno)c(ortico)t(ropic) h(ormone);see origin at adrenocorticotropic
  • Also called a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·trop·ic hor·mone [uh-dree-noh-kawr-ti-koh-troh-pik hawr-mohn], /əˌdri noʊˌkɔr tɪ koʊˈtroʊ pɪk ˈhɔr moʊn/, a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·tro·pin [uh-dree-noh-kawr-ti-koh-troh-pin], /əˌdri noʊˌkɔr tɪ koʊˈtroʊ pɪn/, cor·ti·co·tro·pin [kawr-ti-koh-troh-pin] /ˌkɔr tɪ koʊˈtroʊ pɪn/ .

Words Nearby ACTH

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ACTH

ACTH

noun
  1. adrenocorticotrophic hormone; a polypeptide hormone, secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, that stimulates growth of the adrenal gland and the synthesis and secretion of corticosteroids. It is used in treating rheumatoid arthritis, allergic and skin diseases, and many other disorders: Also called: corticotrophin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for ACTH

ACTH

  1. Abbreviation of adrenocorticotropic hormone

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