(Patho)physiology: the body has 3 control systems to regulate arterial blood pressure (1): - "Immediate control": the autonomic nervous system reflexes are capable of minute-to-minute control of blood pressure (1).
- "Intermediate control": renin and angiotensin (1).
- "long-term control": occurs hours after the decrease in blood pressure by altering the sodium and water balance. This process is mediated by aldosterone with the aim of restoring blood pressure to a normal level (1).
Renin is synthesized and stored in the juxtaglomerular cells in the wall of the renal afferent arterioles. It is stimulated by a decrease in renal perfusion pressure associated with dehydration, acute hemorrhage, renal artery stenosis, or chronic hyponatremia. It converts circulating angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I (1).
References: - Angiotensin. 5-Minute Anesthesiology Consult: full text.
| 