Question

Briefly explain the term ‘hormones’.

Answer 1

Hormones:

1. Hormones are organic substances or non-nutrient chemicals produced by animals and plants in trace amounts.
2. They work as an intercellular messenger, regulate physiological activities, and maintain homeostasis in the body.
3. They perform their functions by stimulating a response from specific organs or tissues that are tuned to respond to their small amounts.
4. The classical view of hormones is that they are delivered to their target in the bloodstream after the glands that secrete them have cleared them. This form of release (directly into the bloodstream) is called endocrine secretion.