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osmoreceptor

noun

os·​mo·​re·​cep·​tor ˌäz-mō-ri-ˈsep-tər How to pronounce osmoreceptor (audio)
: any of a group of cells sensitive to plasma osmolality that are held to exist in the brain and to regulate water balance in the body by controlling thirst and the release of vasopressin

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Cite this Entry

“Osmoreceptor.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/osmoreceptor. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

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