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Definition of Adrenocorticotropic hormone
1. Noun. A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex.
Exact synonyms: Acth, Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone, Adrenocorticotrophin, Adrenocorticotropin, Corticotrophin, Corticotropin
Generic synonyms: Endocrine, Hormone, Internal Secretion
Generic synonyms: Endocrine, Hormone, Internal Secretion
Medical Definition of Adrenocorticotropic hormone
1. The hormone of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis which governs the nutrition and growth of the adrenal cortex, stimulates it to functional activity, and also possesses extraadrenal adipokinetic activity; it is a polypeptide containing 39 amino acids, but exact structure varies from one species to another; sometimes prefixed by a to distinguish it from beta-corticotropin. The first thirteen amino acids at the N-terminal region are identical to alpha-melanotropin. Synonym: adrenocorticotropin, adrenotropic hormone, adrenotropin, corticotropic hormone, corticotropin. (05 Mar 2000)