Corticosterone

/ˌkɔːtɪˈkɒstərəʊn/ noun

Definition

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that helps regulate blood pressure, metabolism, and the body's response to stress.

Etymology

From cortex + steroid + '-one' (chemistry suffix for ketones). Discovered in the 1930s during research on adrenal gland hormones, it's a naturally occurring glucocorticoid hormone.

Kelly Says

Corticosterone is the stress hormone that makes your heart race during a scary movie—it's the chemical messenger that tells your body something important is happening and you need to be ready to react fast.

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