Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Medical term · H
A system that controls many hormonal activities in the body, including the stress response. Often called the HPA axis.
Word parts
adrenal = ad- + ren/o
Related terms
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Stress responsePhysiological changes, such as quickened breathing and heartbeat and increased blood pressure, brought on by stress hormones released in response to a real or perceived threat to…
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StressAn innate survival response in which certain hormones are released, increasing blood flow to the brain or heart. The stress response leads to an energy surge, enabling a person to…
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AxisThe second vertebra of the neck (from the skull); also called the C-2 vertebra.
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HPAAbbreviation for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a system that controls many hormonal activities in the body, including the stress response.