Question

What are animal hormones? List four characteristics of hormones.

Answer 1

Animal hormones are chemicals that are secreted by the endocrine glands. It is carried by the blood to the respective organs to regulate their physiological processes. The organs on which the hormones act are known as the target organs. The target cells on the organs have receptors that recognize the respective hormones on their surface.

Characteristics include:

1) Hormones are secreated by the endocrine glands in small amounts.

2) The hormones are secreted directly into the blood and it is transported throughout the body.

3) They are chemical messengers that regulates the behaviour of the target cells.

4) The specific hormones act only on the target organs.