epinephrine

[ep-uh-nef-rin, -reen] /ˌɛp əˈnɛf rɪn, -rin/

noun

Biochemistry. a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla upon stimulation by the central nervous system in response to stress, as anger or fear, and acting to increase heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Pharmacology. a commercial form of this substance, extracted from the adrenal glands of sheep and cattle, or synthesized: used chiefly as a heart stimulant, to constrict the blood vessels, and to relax the bronchi in asthma.

Also, epinephrin.

Also called adrenaline.

Origin

1895-1900; epi- + Greek nephr(ós) kidney + -ine²

Examples from the web for epinephrine

The medication needed to stop the allergic reaction in its tracks is epinephrine.
Pack your children's prescription medications, including emergency medications such as epinephrine shots for asthmatic children.
Adrenergic receptors are receptors which bind the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Even the captive-raised cavies had higher levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine from the get-go.
It decreases blood pressure by blocking the action of epinephrine, a stress hormone, in the peripheral nervous system.
People with severe allergies to foods, bee stings or insect venom carry the pen-size injectors full of epinephrine at all times.
After a few doses of antihistamines and epinephrine, both used to ease the reaction, she went home a couple of hours later.
Do have a general emergency medical kit including aspirin, atropine, epinephrine.
The major catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
It is usually combined with medications, such as epinephrine and intravenous proton pump inhibitors.

British Dictionary definitions for epinephrine

epinephrine

/ˌɛpɪˈnɛfrɪn; -riːn/

noun

a US name for adrenaline

Word Origin

C19: from epi- + nephro- + -ine²

Word Origin and History for epinephrine

1883, from epi- "upon" + Greek nephros "kidney" (see nephron) + chemical suffix -ine (2). So called because the adrenal glands are on the kidneys.

epinephrine in Medicine

epinephrine ep·i·neph·rine or ep·i·neph·rin (ěp'ə-něf'rĭn)
n.

A catecholamine hormone of the adrenal medulla that is the most potent stimulant of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased heart rate and force of contraction, vasoconstriction or vasodilation, relaxation of bronchiolar and intestinal smooth muscle, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, and other metabolic effects. Also called adrenaline.
A white to brownish crystalline compound isolated from the adrenal glands of certain mammals or synthesized and used in medicine as a heart stimulant, vasoconstrictor, and bronchial relaxant.

epinephrine in Science

epinephrine

(ěp'ə-něf'rĭn)
A hormone that is secreted by the adrenal gland in response to physical or mental stress, as from fear, and is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. The release of epinephrine causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Epinephrine also raises glucose levels in the blood for use as fuel when more alertness or greater physical effort is needed. Also called adrenaline. Chemical formula: C₉H₁₃NO₃.

Encyclopedia Article for epinephrine

adrenaline

two separate but related hormones secreted by the medulla of the adrenal glands. They are also produced at the ends of sympathetic nerve fibres, where they serve as chemical mediators for conveying the nerve impulses to effector organs. Chemically, the two compounds differ only slightly; and they exert similar pharmacological actions, which resemble the effects of stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. They are, therefore, classified as sympathomimetic agents. The active secretion of the adrenal medulla contains approximately 80 percent epinephrine and 20 percent norepinephrine; but this proportion is reversed in the sympathetic nerves, which contain predominantly norepinephrine.

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