Video - Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a hormone system that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. It is composed of several hormones and enzymes that work together to regulate blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid in the blood vessels.

Whenever there's a decrease in blood pressure as detected by the baroreceptors of the carotid sinus or aortic arch or the juxtaglomerular cells, the sympathetic nerves getting stimulated, or the macula densa cells sensing less sodium and chloride ions flowing through the tubules, kidneys secrete renin that converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, and then angiotensin-converting enzyme converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II causes the efferent arteriole to constrict more than the afferent arteriole, which increases the glomerular filtration rate, it also causes the proximal tubule to reabsorb more sodium ions from the filtrate, increases thirst, and helps increase blood pressure, while it, also, stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone, which gets the kidneys to retain sodium and water, further raising blood pressure.