Hormone

A signaling molecule produced by the body that changes the activity of cells or organs, often after traveling through blood or extracellular fluid.

Endocrine system: The network of glands and tissues that releases hormones to regulate bodily functions. It coordinates hormone release and distributes signals among distant organs.
Peptide hormone: A hormone made of amino-acid chains, usually stored in secretory vesicles and released by exocytosis. Insulin and many pituitary signals belong to this widely used hormone class.
Insulin: A peptide hormone from pancreatic beta cells that lowers blood glucose by promoting its uptake and storage. Its failure or deficiency is central to diabetes mellitus.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical released by neurons that transmits signals across synapses or to nearby target cells. The same molecule can function as a neurotransmitter or hormone depending on its release route.
Endocrine disruptor hypothesis: The proposition that certain environmental chemicals can disrupt endocrine function and contribute to adverse outcomes. Researchers continue testing which exposures cause effects at realistic doses and life stages.
Hormone receptor: A protein that binds a hormone and triggers or alters a cellular response. A cell responds only when it has receptors suited to a hormone.
Steroid hormone: A hormone synthesized from cholesterol that can cross cell membranes and bind intracellular receptors. Cortisol and estrogen illustrate hormones with a lipid-derived structure.
Cortisol: A steroid hormone from the adrenal cortex that helps regulate metabolism, immune activity, and stress responses. It links hormone signaling to adaptation during prolonged physiological stress.
Neurohormone: A signaling molecule released by neurons into the bloodstream to act on distant targets. It combines neural production with the circulation-based delivery of endocrine hormones.
Hormone replacement therapy risks and benefits: The balance of benefits and harms associated with prescribing hormones to replace reduced endogenous production. Effects vary by hormone, timing, dose, and individual health profile.

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