Question

What are the types of hormones?

Answer 1

Hormones:

1. These are the chemicals that essentially function as messengers of the body.
2. These chemicals are secreted by special glands known as the endocrine glands, distributed throughout the body.
3. These messengers control many physiological functions as well as psychological health.
4. They play important role in maintaining homeostasis in the body.

Types of Hormones:

1. Lipid-derived hormones:
   1. Lipid-derived hormones are lipid-soluble and can diffuse through cell membranes because they are non-polar.
   2. The majority of lipid hormones, including steroids like estrogen and testosterone, are formed from cholesterol.
   3. The cytoplasm of target cells contains the receptors for lipid hormones because they can diffuse across cell membranes.
2. Amino acid-derived hormones:
   1. Amino acid-derived hormones are the relatively tiny molecules created from amino acids and used to create hormones.
   2. Examples of hormones produced from amino acids are epinephrine and norepinephrine.
   3. Melatonin, which is produced and emitted by the pineal gland in the brain, controls sleep cycles.
3. Peptide Hormones:
   1. Peptide hormones have a polypeptide chain as their structural basis (chain of amino acids).
   2. Short polypeptide-chain molecules like oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone, which are synthesized in the brain and released into the blood by the posterior pituitary gland, are examples of peptide hormones.
   3. Other members of this class include big glycoproteins like a follicle-stimulating hormone, which is produced by the pituitary, as well as tiny proteins like growth hormones.