VASOCONSTRICTOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vasoconstrictor mean? 

• VASOCONSTRICTOR (noun)
  The noun VASOCONSTRICTOR has 1 sense:

1. any agent that causes a narrowing of an opening of a blood vessel: cold or stress or nicotine or epinephrine or norepinephrine or angiotensin or vasopressin or certain drugs; maintains or increases blood pressure

  Familiarity information: VASOCONSTRICTOR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VASOCONSTRICTOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any agent that causes a narrowing of an opening of a blood vessel: cold or stress or nicotine or epinephrine or norepinephrine or angiotensin or vasopressin or certain drugs; maintains or increases blood pressure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

pressor; vasoconstrictive; vasoconstrictor

Hypernyms ("vasoconstrictor" is a kind of...):

agent (an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vasoconstrictor"):

adrenergic; adrenergic drug (drug that has the effects of epinephrine)

angiotensin; angiotonin; Hypertensin (any of several vasoconstrictor substances (trade name Hypertensin) that cause narrowing of blood vessels)

lypressin (an antidiuretic and vasoconstrictor used to treat diabetes insipidus)

naphazoline; Privine; Sudafed (vasoconstrictor (trade names Privine and Sudafed) used in nasal sprays to treat symptoms of nasal congestion and in eyedrops to treat eye irritation)

vasopressor (any agent that produces vasoconstriction and a rise in blood pressure (usually understood as increased arterial pressure))

cold; coldness; frigidity; frigidness; low temperature (the absence of heat)

noradrenaline; norepinephrine (a catecholamine precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and also released at synapses)

Adrenalin; adrenaline; epinephrin; epinephrine (a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve action)

ADH; antidiuretic hormone; Pitressin; vasopressin (hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus; affects blood pressure by stimulating capillary muscles and reduces urine flow by affecting reabsorption of water by kidney tubules)

nicotine (an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide)

 Context examples 

Angiotensin II also acts as a vasoconstrictor in vascular smooth muscle.

(Irbesartan, NCI Thesaurus)

Endothelin-1, encoded by the EDN1 gene is a potent, 21-amino acid vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells.

(Endothelin-1, NCI Thesaurus)

A sulfonamide triptan with extracerebral, intracranial vasoconstrictor activity.

(Almotriptan, NCI Thesaurus)

The propionate salt form of halobetasol, a synthetic corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictor activities.

(Halobetasol Propionate, NCI Thesaurus)

Fosinoprilat specifically and competitively inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme thereby decreasing the formation of the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II, resulting in diminished vasopressor activity.

(Fosinopril, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictor activities.

(Halobetasol, NCI Thesaurus)

Lisinopril, a synthetic peptide derivative, specifically and competitively inhibits ACE, which results in a decrease in the production of the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and, so, diminished vasopressor activity.

(Lisinopril, NCI Thesaurus)

Clinically, norepinephrine is used as a peripheral vasoconstrictor that causes constriction of arterial and venous beds via its alpha-adrenergic action.

(Norepinephrine Bitartrate, NCI Thesaurus)

It has vasoconstrictor and natriuretic activity and regulates local blood flow, glandular secretion, and smooth muscle activity.

(Neuropeptide Y, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

This prevents the actions of the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and leads to vasodilatation.

(Moexipril Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)