hormone system regulating blood pressure and fluid balance
The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS), also known as the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), is a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. When blood pressure drops, the kidneys release the enzyme renin, which triggers a cascade of reactions leading to the production of angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that increases blood pressure and stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal glands, promoting sodium and water retention.