Testosterone: Testosterone is the most important sex hormone synthesized in men, which cause puberty, muscle mass growth, and strengthen the bones and muscles, increase bone density and controls facial hair growth. Progesterone: It is a female sex hormone also responsible for the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis. This is done by increasing the heart rate, elevating blood sugar levels etc. Estrogen level changes during menopause because of which women experience many uncomfortable symptoms.Ĭortisol : It has been named the “stress hormone” as it helps the body in responding to stress. Melatonin: It primarily controls the circadian rhythm or sleep cycles.Įstrogen : This is the main sex hormone present in women which bring about puberty, prepares the uterus and body for pregnancy and even regulates the menstrual cycle. Hormones are made of a diverse range of chemicals, but they are classified into three classes –Īmino acid/protein derivatives (amines, proteins, and peptides) Hormones, in their first action, cause a limited number of reactions and do not influence any metabolic activities of a cell directly.Ī significant characteristic of hormones is that, after their function is over, they are readily destroyed, excreted or inactivated. Hormones act as coenzymes of other enzymes in the human body. The importance of hormones is that they are non-antigenic. They are soluble in water so that they can be transported via blood. Hormones always act in low concentration. They have a low molecular weight thus, they can easily pass through capillaries. The significant properties of hormones are – All of the hormones in the human body, except the sex hormones and those from the adrenal cortex, are proteins or protein derivatives. Hormones may be chemically classified as either proteins or steroids. Several hormones play major roles during pregnancy such as Estrogen, Progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), and Human placental lactogen (hPL). Many hormone levels are affected in the body during pregnancy. Hormones that regulate the release of other hormones are defined as tropic hormones, which are secreted by the anterior pituitary in the brain. Hormones may be regulated by glands and organs, by a negative feedback mechanism, or by other hormones. Initiating and maintaining sexual development and reproduction The following are some important functions of hormones: Once this process is complete, hormones then transmit the message which causes an organ or tissue to perform a specific action. After reaching a target site, hormones bind to the receptors. Blood transmits them to various organs and tissues of the human body. Hormones act as a messenger which is released into the blood. The introduction of hormones to the blood takes place via endocrine glands. Hormones are various chemicals released within the human body that regulate and control the activities of multiple organs. Thus, a small amount of hormone can trigger a significant response in the human body. Moreover, hormones also affect the way a human body stores and uses energy and regulates the volume of fluids as well as the level of sugar and salt in the blood. They control the functions of organs and influence their growth, reproduction and sexual characteristics. The importance of hormones in the proper functioning of the human body is immense. These chemical messages help to turn on or turn off cellular processes that control stress, appetite, growth, sleep cycles, blood sugar, sex drive, and sexual function. Hormones carry chemical messages from the glands where they are produced to cells in different parts of the human body. Hormones are chemical substances that act like messenger molecules that stream through the bloodstream.