▪ I. pressor, a. Phys.
(ˈprɛsə(r))
[Agent-n. in L. form from premĕre to press, used attrib.]
That presses; stimulating, exciting.
| 1890 Billings Med. Dict., Pressor nerves, nerves whose stimulation increases activity of vaso-motor centres. 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., Pressor, exciting, stimulating. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 258 If the basilar artery be embolised by injections into the vertebral arteries the greatest pressor effects occur. 1904 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 10 Sept. 603 The extract..seems to contain both a pressor and a depressor substance. |
▸ A pressor substance.
| 1953 Amer. Jrnl. Med. 14 757/1 Our results suggest that angiotonin and other pressors used are not the substances which cause systemic hypertension..in essential hypertension. 1966 Lancet 4 June 1243/1 Her blood-pressure became unobtainable and required intravenous pressors to maintain a systolic level of 90 mm. Hg. 2006 Amer. Jrnl. Hypertension 19 323/1 Although a sympathetic reflex has been suggested, it is unclear how water acts as a pressor. |
▪ II. pressor
obs. f. presser; var. pressour.