TY  - JOUR
T1  - MEdical terminology
AU  - Liebman A
Y1  - 1979/05/18
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1979.03290460011002
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 2141
EP  - 2141
VL  - 241
IS  - 20
N2  - To the Editor.— 
    In the COMMENTARY entitled "Vogue Words—Ectopic Language" (240:2439, 1978), David H. Spodick, MD, DSc, draws our attention to the problem of misuse of our language in medical terminology. For some time now, the term "antidiuretic hormone" has struck me as being both confusing and inaccurate semantically. Since a diuretic is an agent that increases the secretion of urine, then an antidiuretic substance would be one that acts against agents that produce diuresis.The role of antidiuretic hormone in human physiology is clearly not that limited. It functions as an important part of the homeostasis of the body, increasing permeability of tubular cells of renal collecting ducts to water and permitting reabsorption into the bloodstream. Now it may be time to consider the use of a more accurate and direct name for this hormone. For openers, I would suggest the term "water-retaining hormone." Those in the process of
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1979.03290460011002
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03290460011002
ER  -