corticosteroid

n. any of the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal gland. They include the glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol), which are involved in carbohydrate metabolism; and the mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone), which have a role in electrolyte balance and sodium retention. Also called adrenocorticoid.

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Psychology term of the day

January 24th 2025

butabarbital

n. an intermediate-acting barbiturate used in the treatment of insomnia and for daytime and preoperative sedation. Like other barbiturates, it is a nonselective CNS depressant and therefore quite toxic in overdose. Because tolerance to its sedative and hypnotic effects accrues much more rapidly than tolerance to its CNS depressant effects, its therapeutic index drops and its potential lethality increases as the dose is increased. These factors, plus its potential for abuse, have caused a decline in its clinical use. U.S. trade name: Butisol Sodium.