Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate or transmit information from one system or organ to another
In plants, hormones help determine when plants need to grow, reproduce, or die, while animals use hormones to control body functions like reproduction and growth.
Different hormones are released at different times in a person's life. Hormones are produced, for example, by the adrenal glands, the pituitary gland, and the thyroid gland. A hormone is a special member of an extended class of hormones co-produced by glands in many multicellular animals that are transported through the blood system to target tissue to regulate behavior and physiology.
Hormones can be both male and female, and they can be produced by both sexes. In addition, a number of other types of hormones are sometimes produced. Hormones are produced in the gonads, which are the testes of the reproductive system, and can be either male or female. When hormones are produced in the testes, they are called sex-determining hormones. Sex-determining hormones are usually present in both men and women before birth, but these hormones can also be released after birth.
The level of hormone production changes with age as in other parts of the body. While some children tend to have low testosterone levels, others have very high levels. Each time puberty strikes, a number of hormones are released into the bloodstream, and these hormones are secreted by the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, or thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone (T3) that helps regulate the functioning of the body's metabolism and produces antibodies that help the body fight infection and promote the growth of the immune system. The pituitary gland produces growth hormone (GH), which aid in the regeneration of tissue and muscles, and the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which helps regulate blood glucose and regulate other body functions.
Different hormones are produced by different organs. One hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream is a glucocorticoid hormone, which is primarily secreted by the adrenal glands and is produced to combat infection and inflammation. The second hormone that is produced is a mineralocorticoid, which are produced by the thyroid gland and stimulates the production of bile salts, the production of fat and cholesterol, and helps the liver to metabolize fat.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream because they are needed for regulating the functioning of the human body
For instance, when a person has an infection, the body produces cortisol, which will help speed up the body's immune response. In response to the infection, hormones such as growth hormone (GH) are secreted. This in turn, stimulates the immune system and allows the body to fight infection.
Because hormones are secreted into the bloodstream, the body is constantly exposed to the environment. When there is an excessive exposure to the environment, the body releases its own version of hormones to keep itself from being subjected to chronic stress. As part of its response to the stress, the body secretes more hormones to try to make up for the lack of stress.
Hormones work in two ways to maintain the normal function of the body. First, they stimulate the body's natural production of energy and hormones such as cortisol are released to help fuel the body's metabolism. Second, hormones also stimulate the body to produce antibodies that help in fighting off infection.
Production of hormones can be either high or low in a person depending on their age. Young people are particularly prone to having high levels of testosterone production. The body produces testosterone mainly to stimulate sexual development, while middle-aged men and women produce testosterone to help deal with sexual activity, as well as to aid in the production of growth hormones such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF). This is particularly true in women.
The production of hormones also depends on a number of factors, including the person's health, the type of hormone being produced, and the type of activity the body is involved in. Hormones also depend on age and the amount of activity a person engages in.
The production of hormones is necessary because the body cannot handle the activity level it is exposed to without them. When hormones become high production, it can lead to imbalances and dysfunction, so the body begins to use hormones to try to compensate for the imbalance.