Q.What are hormones? Give one example for each -
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Hormones are chemical messengers, classified by structure into steroid, polypeptide, and amino-acid-derived types, each illustrated with an example.
Hormones are chemical substances (biomolecules) produced by the endocrine (ductless) glands of the body and released directly into the bloodstream. They act as chemical messengers, being carried by blood to specific target organs/tissues, where they bind to receptors and regulate physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction, even though they are present in very small (trace) quantities.
Hormones are classified according to their chemical nature:
- Steroid hormones: derived from cholesterol (a steroid nucleus), these are lipid-soluble hormones. Example: Estradiol (a female sex hormone/estrogen) – responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics. (Testosterone and progesterone are other examples.)
- Polypeptide hormones: made up of chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, like small proteins. Example: Insulin – secreted by the β-cells of the pancreas; regulates blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake by cells. …
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