How is angiotensin-2 involved in the functioning of the kidney?
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Solution
Angiotensin-2:
Angiotensin-2 is a medication used to treat hypotension from shock. It is a type of vasoconstrictor.
Angiotensin-2 triggers the adrenal gland to release aldosterone, a hormone that triggers sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule.
As a result, water is reabsorbed with sodium. The increased reabsorption of water and sodium from the distal tubule causes the reduction of urine output thus increasing the circulating blood volume. This elevated blood volume assists in stretching the muscles of the heart and thus generates all the more pressure with every beat. Consequently, blood pressure increases.
Hence, the stretching of heart muscles is directly proportional to the circulating blood volume.