NURS 3550H Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Angiotensin, Vascular Smooth Muscle, Adrenal Medulla
Document Summary
Chapter 44 drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The raas plays an important role in regulating bp, blood volume, and fluid and electrolyte balance. System appears to mediate certain pathophysiologic changes associated with htn, hf, and mi. Release of aldosterone: even exposed to small amounts of angiotensin ii the adrenal cortex will promote the synthesis and secretion of aldosterone, aldosterone secretion is enhanced when sodium levels are low and when potassium levels are high. Alteration of cardiac and vascular structure: in the heart, angiotensin ii may cause hypertrophy (inc cardiac mass) and remodeling (redistribution of mass within the heart, known effects of angiotensin ii that could underlie pathological changes include: Inc migration, proliferation, and hypertrophy of vsm cells. Inc production of extracellular matrix by vsm cells: hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes. Inc production of extracellular matrix by cardiac fibroblasts. Formation of angiotensin ii by renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme.